Pune, July 1 -- In a major crackdown on online fraud racket, the Cyber Crime unit of Pimpri Chinchwad Police has arrested five individuals within 24 hours for allegedly duping a victim of Rs 1.11 crore through a fraudulent online investment scheme, an official said on Tuesday.

According to DCP Shivaji Pawar, the complainant, who is an engineer by profession, was contacted by the accused via multiple WhatsApp numbers with an offer to invest in a platform named "Ali Express," promising high returns of 10-15%.

Initial transactions appeared legitimate, with the complainant receiving small profits, which prompted further investments amounting to over Rs 1.11 crore, deposited into various bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.

DCP further...