In Surat, a 43-year-old entrepreneur, Sunil Kosadiya, fell victim to a sophisticated investment scam, losing Rs 69.50 lakh after being lured by fraudulent claims of high returns on share market investments. The scammers operated through a fake trading app and WhatsApp groups, convincing Kosadiya to invest large sums under the guise of rapid returns. Meanwhile, in Thane, a 35-year-old cloth trader was similarly defrauded of Rs 1.9 crore by scammers who added him to a WhatsApp group focused on share trading, leading him to invest heavily without any returns. Both cases have prompted local police to register FIRs under the Information Technology Act. The rise in such scams raises concerns about the rapid proliferation of financial fraud online, particularly via social media and messaging platforms. Authorities are urging individuals to exercise caution when approached with investment opportunities.