Three people in Lucknow have allegedly lost a combined ₹64.61 lakh in three separate fraud cases involving false business investment promises, a land booking arrangement and a fake credit card reward offer. Police have registered separate First Information Reports (FIRs) at Kaiserbagh, Gomtinagar and Vibhutikhand police stations, and investigations are underway.
According to the complaints, the victims were approached through different promises and lost substantial amounts of money. The cases involve both alleged financial deception and a cyber-enabled transaction. Investigators are examining payment records, bank accounts and digital evidence to establish how the money was transferred and identify those responsible.
₹28 Lakh Allegedly Collected Through Business and Flat Promise
The first complaint was filed by Pinky Chauhan, a resident of Bazarkhala. She alleged that she was introduced to Sonu Jaiswal of Shiva Enterprises and Preeti Dhanuk, along with Preeti Sonkar, who is associated with the Jankalyan Seva Foundation.
According to her complaint, the incident began after she met them on February 15. In March, Sonu allegedly told her that he had established a beer factory in Gurugram but was unable to operate it because his bank account had been frozen.
He reportedly sought ₹28 lakh, promising to return the full amount within five days and provide a flat. Pinky alleged that she transferred the money after accepting these assurances.
When the promised repayment period passed, she reportedly sought the return of her money but received no satisfactory response. She further alleged that the people involved began avoiding her and later issued threats.
Kaiserbagh police registered an FIR based on her complaint. Assistant Commissioner of Police Gaurav Upadhyay said the complainant had been called to record her statement and that notices would be issued to the accused for questioning.
₹17.50 Lakh Land Booking Dispute Under Investigation
The second case concerns Durgawati, a resident of Deoria, who allegedly paid ₹17.50 lakh towards the booking of a plot in the Gomtinagar area.
According to her complaint, she approached Involve Expressway City Company to purchase land and met several individuals associated with the transaction, including Deepali Mishra, Sharad Tiwari, Yogendra Singh, Suryaprakash Dubey, Anil and Satish.
They allegedly assured her that a plot would be allotted and collected ₹17.50 lakh as booking money. However, the land registry was not completed despite the payment.
After repeated follow-ups failed to resolve the matter, Durgawati approached the police. Gomtinagar police registered a case and began investigating the transaction.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Ratnesh Singh said investigators are examining payment documents, booking records and the roles of individuals associated with the company. The probe will also look into the availability of the land and the bank accounts that received the money.
₹19.11 Lakh Allegedly Lost Through Fake Credit Card Reward Link
The third complaint involves Nalni Gupta, a resident of Gudamba, who allegedly lost ₹19.11 lakh in a cyber fraud linked to a credit card reward offer.
According to the complaint, she received a message offering welcome reward benefits associated with her credit card. The fraudsters allegedly sent her a link, which she clicked believing it was connected to the reward programme.
She later received alerts about unauthorised withdrawals from her bank account and realised that money had been transferred without her permission. She subsequently lodged a complaint at Vibhutikhand police station.
Police said the cyber cell is examining digital evidence, tracing the bank accounts involved and attempting to identify the person who sent the suspicious link.
For consumers, such incidents underline the importance of verifying reward offers through official bank channels and avoiding links received through unsolicited messages. Anyone who notices an unauthorised financial transaction should contact their bank immediately and report the incident through official cybercrime reporting channels.
Businesses and individuals can also benefit from stronger financial checks and transaction monitoring. Shunyatax offers financial investigation services to support financial review and scrutiny of suspicious transactions.
Police Examine Financial and Digital Evidence
The three complaints involve different alleged methods, but all have resulted in substantial financial losses. Investigators are now examining bank transfers, transaction records, booking documents and digital evidence to determine how the money was collected or transferred.
The combined amount involved in the complaints is:
Case | Alleged amount |
|---|---|
Business and flat promise | ₹28 lakh |
Land booking case | ₹17.50 lakh |
Credit card reward link fraud | ₹19.11 lakh |
Total | ₹64.61 lakh |
Police investigations are ongoing. The allegations against the named individuals have not been established in court, and further legal action will depend on the evidence collected by investigators.