A software engineer in Hyderabad was allegedly duped of ₹2.36 crore after falling victim to an online fraud orchestrated through Facebook, police said. Acting on the complaint, the Cyberabad Cybercrime Police registered a case on Saturday and launched an investigation.
According to police, the victim, identified as Veerabhadra Rao, was targeted by a person posing as a woman on Facebook. The accused, who introduced herself as “Kora,” sent him a friend request in August 2025 and gradually built trust through regular conversations. She claimed to be from Singapore and working in Mumbai, later telling Rao that she was living in Hyderabad with her family.
After gaining his confidence, the accused added Rao to a Facebook group and claimed that her associates, including friends in Germany, were earning substantial profits through online trading. She encouraged him to invest in a platform referred to as the “Facebook Store,” promising high returns.
Initially hesitant, Rao eventually agreed. When the provided link did not open, the accused sent him an APK file. Upon downloading it, a Facebook-like application appeared on his phone. He was then guided to buy and sell items on the platform to generate profits. The accused also introduced him to another individual, “Bella,” who allegedly assisted him with investment decisions.
Police said that between September 1 and December 12, 2025, Rao transferred a total of ₹2.36 crore through cryptocurrency transactions. While the application displayed apparent profits, he was unable to withdraw any funds.
Realising he had been cheated after repeated failed attempts to recover his money, Rao approached the police.
“A cyber fraud complaint has been lodged by a software engineer, Rao, who has been duped of ₹2.36 crore. We are investigating the matter,” said Chaitanya Rao, Circle Inspector of the cybercrime police station.
Police have urged citizens to remain cautious while interacting with unknown individuals online and to avoid downloading applications or investing through unverified links.
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