Ludhiana Industrialist Duped of ₹19.84 Cr in Crypto Honeytrap; Fraud Used 76 Mule Accounts Across 15 Banks via Fake Profile ‘Anayika Roy’ and Cloned Platform, Exposing Rising Threat of Emotion-Driven Cyber Scams in India
A cyber fraud in Punjab has come into light by one Anayika Roy, who allegedly used a fake identity to orchestrate an elaborate cryptocurrency scam through a honeytrap that defrauded a Ludhiana-based industrialist of Rs. 19.84 crores.
A Digital Relationship Built on Trust
According to police sources, the victim, Jagdeep Singla, was initially contacted via Facebook by a profile called “Anayika Roy”, which is believed to be a fake identity. The informal communication slowly grew into regular interactions, which established familiarity and trust. The police observe that this is a typical honeypot trap trick employed in internet scam activities.
According to the FIR, the fraud was carried out by an organized crime syndicate using fake identities. The discussions that started on Facebook and were later transferred to WhatsApp by individuals posing as representatives of a crypto exchange. The woman has been reported to have claimed high returns, which made him believe that the investments were risk-free.
The Ponzi Scheme and the Fake Platform
Investigators have claimed that the victim was directed to sign up on a site named Konex VIP 2, which seemed to be a genuine site but turned out to be a cloned and fake site. The platform was showing fake profits, which gave the impression of exponential profits.
According to the FIR, the victim started investing on May 15, 2025 and invested 1 lakh at the start. With time, he was convinced to deposit large amounts in several accounts. The fraudsters had created a counterfeit investment platform which showed their money had increased.
The authorities disclosed that the money was laundered in 76 mule accounts in 15 banks, and this shows the magnitude and organisation of the transaction.
Psychological Manipulation and Escalation
Police authorities pointed out that emotional manipulation was crucial. Investigators stated that Roy was always in touch with the victim and offered him reassurance and guidance in times of insecurity and directed the victim to so-called customer care representatives who worked in the same syndicate.
As the victim tried to withdraw funds, he was requested to pay some extra fees for other reasons. These were taxes, processing charges and even green channel charges. The accused is also alleged to have given fake regulatory notices and threats to coerce additional payments, as per the complaint.
A Large-Scale Organized Cybercrime Network
The officials said that the syndicate operated the scam with the help of fake SIM cards, forged documents and several bank accounts.
The state cybercrime police station in Mohali has registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges of cheating, forgery, and organised crime. “No recovery has been made so far,” a police official confirmed.
“Efforts are on to trace the accused and dismantle the wider network through digital evidence and financial tracking.”
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Conclusion
The case of the Anayika Roy demonstrates that cybercriminals are becoming more adept at using emotional manipulation for financial fraud. Whether Roy is a fictional or a real person is still under investigation. But the case is a sobering reminder that trust in the digital realm is a product that can be manufactured and caution is the primary defence.
