Panvel Transporter Duped of Rs 1.27 Crore in Online Gaming App Scam
A 26-year-old transporter from Panvel in Navi Mumbai was defrauded of Rs 1.27 crore after placing bets on an online gaming application called 'Khelo24match', police said. The victim had invested the amount after selling his ancestral agricultural land in Panvel taluka.
According to the police, the complainant believed that the platform was a legitimate gaming operation. After registering his user ID on the gaming platform's website, he was directed by scammers to gradually transfer money via UPI to several bank accounts to place bets on card games, casino games, and other activities on the 'Khelo24match' platform.
The transactions took place between October 9, 2024, and July 28, 2026. The victim continued transferring money as the application displayed virtual profits, giving him the impression of steady returns.
Vishal Patil, senior inspector of the Navi Mumbai Cyber police station, stated that the virtual profits shown on the app lured the victim into investing larger sums. The transporter realised he had been cheated when he attempted to withdraw his funds and was unable to access the money.
Following the discovery, the victim approached the cyber police and registered an FIR on Thursday.
The Navi Mumbai Cyber police have invoked relevant Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections for cheating, criminal breach of trust, and joint criminal liability, alongside provisions under the Information Technology Act and The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2005.
The case has been registered against unidentified accused individuals, including the director, manager, and customer care representative of 'Khelo24match', the operator of the website 'khelo24match99.com', and the holders of the bank accounts into which the victim transferred money.
Police noted that in June, a 25-year-old auto-rickshaw driver from Morave village in the Ulwe node of Panvel taluka also registered an FIR after losing Rs 1.27 crore in bets placed on an online platform named 'KheloStar'.
