Udupi: Four online fraud cases have been reported at Udupi Town and Kundapur police stations, with victims collectively losing Rs 18.69 lakh to suspected cybercriminals. The cases involve a fraudulent online trading scheme, unauthorised bank withdrawals and suspicious credit card transactions reported between July and October 2026.

The largest loss was reported by a 75-year-old man who allegedly invested more than Rs 14.35 lakh in a fraudulent trading scheme promoted through a Facebook link. The other three cases involved unauthorised transactions from a bank account and credit cards. Police have registered cases and are investigating the incidents.

Senior citizen loses Rs 14.35 lakh in online trading fraud

In the first case, Ramesh Shetty, 75, allegedly lost Rs 14,35,724 after investing in a trading scheme advertised through a link on Facebook.

According to the complaint, Shetty began investing on July 29 after accessing the link. He initially received returns, which reportedly encouraged him to invest larger amounts in instalments.

On September 1, he received a message claiming that shares worth Rs 9,24,800 had been allotted to him through an initial public offering (IPO). Shetty reportedly told the people behind the scheme that he had not applied for the IPO and did not have the money to pay for the shares.

However, he was allegedly pressured into making the payment and borrowed money to do so.

When Shetty subsequently attempted to withdraw his funds, the accused allegedly refused to release the money and demanded an additional Rs 5,10,724, said to represent 10% of the purported profits.

Shetty reportedly made the additional payment after being threatened that he would not be allowed to withdraw his money otherwise. The people behind the scheme allegedly stopped responding to his messages, WhatsApp communications and phone calls after receiving the money.

Udupi Town Police have registered a case and are investigating the alleged fraud.

Man reports Rs 1.55 lakh in unauthorised bank withdrawals

In another case, Madhava Rao R.V., 61, a resident of Badagubettu, reported unauthorised withdrawals totalling Rs 1.55 lakh from his bank account.

According to the complaint, Rs 55,000 was withdrawn without his knowledge on October 6, followed by another unauthorised debit of Rs 1 lakh on October 7.

The complainant reported the transactions to the authorities, and Udupi Town Police registered a case.

The circumstances surrounding the withdrawals, including how the transactions were carried out and who was responsible, are under investigation.

Credit card fraud reported in two cases

Two other complaints involved unauthorised credit card transactions.

In the third case, Nithin Jose reported that Rs 1,13,940 was transferred from his credit card to an account identified as Amazon Web Services on the night of October 7 without his knowledge.

Udupi Town Police registered a case following the complaint. Investigators will examine the transaction details to determine how the payment was initiated and whether the card details were compromised.

In the fourth case, Sarika P.V., 33, reported multiple unauthorised deductions totalling Rs 1,64,666 from her credit card on October 7.

The complaint was registered at Kundapur Police Station, and an investigation is underway to establish the circumstances of the transactions and identify those responsible.

Police investigate combined losses of Rs 18.69 lakh

The four cases highlight different methods allegedly used in online financial fraud, from investment schemes that promise returns to unauthorised transactions involving bank accounts and credit cards.

The largest reported loss involved an online trading scheme in which the victim was allegedly persuaded to invest more money after receiving initial returns. The subsequent demand for an additional payment to release the funds is a warning sign commonly associated with investment scams.

The other complaints demonstrate the importance of regularly monitoring bank and credit card statements for transactions that have not been authorised by the account holder.

Anyone who notices suspicious transactions should promptly contact their bank or card issuer, report the incident to the police and preserve relevant messages, transaction records and other evidence.

The police investigations into all four cases are continuing. The allegations remain subject to investigation, and further findings will be needed to establish the identities of those responsible and trace the money lost by the victims.