Retired Colonel Targeted in Mega Investment Scam; ₹2.34 Crore Lost to Fraudsters

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This page simplifies the alert so you can quickly understand what happened, who may be affected, and what details to check before you trust a message, call, or link.

If this just happened to you

Do these in order. Speed matters more than anything else right now.

Stop the call or chat. Do not click any more links or pay anything.
Call your bank’s helpline (printed on the card or on the bank’s website) and ask them to block the card and freeze online transactions.
Call 1930 within 24 hours and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
Save screenshots, numbers, and links involved — you’ll need them.

Detailed steps and where else to report are below. Full reporting list & helplines →

Alert summary (plain language)

An 80-year-old retired Army Colonel from Panchkula lost ₹2.34 crore in an investment scam. The victim received a WhatsApp message from a fraudster claiming to be from a stock market firm who promised ...

Key details

Published on

14 August 2025 at 05:00 am

Reported by

The 420

Reported

Target profile

senior citizen

State

Haryana

City

Panchkula

Reported loss range

₹2500000–₹5000000

Sources & verification

RISX rewrites public reporting into plain language. Always check the originals — wording, dates, and updates may change after we publish.

Summary last updated from our feed: 14 August 2025 at 05:00 am

The 420
https://the420.in/panchkula-cyber-fraud-retired-colonel-2-34-crore-arrest/

Common scam keywords

Words and phrases scammers use in this kind of scam. If you see them in a message, treat it as a .

investment scamwhatsapp fraudstock market schemesenior citizen targetingtrust manipulationmoney transfer

Topics

senior citizen fraud investment fraud whatsapp scam cyber fraud stock market scam

Red flags this scam usually shows

If a message, call, or page involves any of these, treat it as suspicious — even if it looks like the alert above.

Pushes you to act in a hurry
Real organizations give you time. Threats like 'your account will be closed in 30 minutes' are designed to panic you into mistakes.
Asks for OTP, PIN, CVV, or password
Banks, UPI apps, government offices, and police never ask for these. Anyone asking is trying to steal your money.
Sends you a link or APK to install
Tapping unknown links or installing unverified apps can give scammers full access to your phone and bank accounts.
Comes from an unusual or unofficial number
Check the sender ID carefully. Misspelled brand names, random 10-digit numbers, or international numbers are common scam signs.
Asks for an advance, processing fee, or 'refund tax'
Real refunds, prizes, jobs, or loans never require you to pay first. If you must pay to receive something, it is a scam.

Time-sensitive

If you’ve been affected, do these now

Work through these in order. The first hour matters most.

National cyber-fraud helpline

Call within 24 hours so the bank can try to freeze the money.

Call 1930

Stop the call or chat right now
Hang up, leave the chat, and do not click any more links. Every extra minute is more risk. Take a breath; you are not alone in this.
Block your card and freeze the account
Call your bank's official helpline (printed on the back of your card or on the bank's website) and ask them to block the card and temporarily freeze online transactions. Do not call numbers a stranger gave you.
Change passwords and revoke device access
Change passwords for net banking, UPI apps, and email. In your UPI app, remove any 'linked devices' you do not recognize. Turn on two-factor authentication where possible.
Report to the National Cyber Crime Helpline within 24 hours
Call 1930 or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Reporting within the first 24 hours gives the best chance of freezing the money before it moves.
Open cybercrime.gov.in
Save evidence before it disappears
Take screenshots of the messages, save call logs, note down the phone numbers, UPI IDs, and any URLs involved. Save SMS-based transaction alerts. You will need these for the complaint.
Tell a trusted person
Scams thrive on shame and isolation. Telling a family member or friend helps you think clearly and avoid follow-up scams that target recent victims.

Where to report

Use one of these official channels. Reporting early gives the best chance of recovering funds.

National Cyber Crime Helpline
Start here
First call for any online financial fraud. Operators help you file a complaint and can request banks to freeze the recipient account.
Call 1930 Open website24x7
cybercrime.gov.in
Official portal of the Government of India to report cyber crime, including financial fraud, social media misuse, and crimes against women and children.
Open websiteOnline, anytime
Sanchar Saathi - Chakshu
Report suspicious calls and SMS that look like fraud. Run by the Department of Telecommunications.
Open websiteOnline, anytime

We list official channels only. RISX is independent and does not receive any payment for these listings.

Warn family and friends

Forward a short, plain-language warning. People who don’t use this site need a heads-up too.

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Takes about 30 seconds

Scam alert: Investment Scam in Panchkula An 80-year-old retired Army Colonel from Panchkula lost ₹2.34 crore in an investment scam. What to do: • Never share OTP, PIN, or passwords with anyone. • Do not click unknown links or install apps a stranger asks you to. • If you think you’ve been targeted, call 1930 within 24 hours. More details and how to protect yourself: https://risx.in/alerts/68a36350ca727380b0098b68

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If this just happened to you

Do these in order. Speed matters more than anything else right now.

Stop the call or chat. Do not click any more links or pay anything.

Call your bank’s helpline (printed on the card or on the bank’s website) and ask them to block the card and freeze online transactions.

Call 1930 within 24 hours and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.

Save screenshots, numbers, and links involved — you’ll need them.