Cyber fraudsters lure airline pilot through YouTube, WhatsApp group posing as SMC Global Securities

Mumbai, July 23, 2025 A 56 year-old pilot employed with a reputed private airline has fallen victim to a sophisticated online stock market investment scam, losing over ₹3 crore. The fraud began in May 2023 through a fake app that falsely claimed to represent “SMC Global Securities.” The pilot, who lives in Andheri East, registered a police complaint last week. He explained that scammers lured him through YouTube videos and WhatsApp chats before convincing him to invest.

The pilot first encountered stock market content on YouTube. He subscribed to a channel reportedly linked to a person named S. Bhasin. Soon after, he received WhatsApp messages from a woman named Anuprita Daga. She claimed to be an associate of Ajay Garg from SMC Global Securities, a well-known firm.

The scammers soon added the complainant to a WhatsApp group named “VIP8 SMC Global Securities.” There, they urged him to download a stock trading app through a shared link. The app mirrored the branding of a genuine securities platform, making it harder for the victim to detect any anomalies. Following instructions provided by Daga and others in the group, the pilot proceeded to invest ₹3.2 crore through multiple transfers into various bank accounts shared via WhatsApp. Cyber police are now tracking these bank accounts.

According to the FIR, the fraudsters claimed the pilot’s total investments had grown to ₹15.8 crore and falsely reported an additional ₹6.7 crore gain on his wife’s account. The scammers used the illusion of exponential returns to lure him into investing more. When he tried to withdraw his funds on July 11, they demanded a 10% advance processing fee. This raised suspicions and eventually led to the registration of the police complaint. This form of “advance fee fraud” is increasingly common in app-based financial scams.

The Mumbai Cyber Cell has launched a formal investigation into the scam, focusing on the IP addresses and phone numbers used to operate the fake WhatsApp group and investment app. Moreover, officers suspect the scam is part of a larger interstate or even international cyber fraud network. FIRs in similar cases have also cited the use of fake investment groups promising unrealistic returns.

The case underscores the growing threat of tech-driven financial scams in India. These scams often target middle-aged professionals seeking alternate investment options. Experts advise citizens to verify all financial platforms on official regulatory websites. They also warn against engaging with unsolicited investment groups on social media or messaging apps.

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