PRAYAGRAJ, June 21 -- Cyber fraudsters duped five individuals of nearly Rs 1.53 crore in separate incidents reported across the city and nearby areas in the past few weeks. The frauds were carried out through various methods, including fake investment schemes, fraudulent bank calls, online shopping scams and malicious mobile applications. Police and the cyber cell have launched investigations into all the cases. The biggest fraud involved Vishnu Kumar Tiwari, a resident of Robertsganj in Sonbhadra district, who alleged that fraudsters cheated him of Rs 1.48 crore on the pretext of investment in film production and a production house. Tiwari lodged a complaint accusing several individuals, including Mohammad Etisham alias Raju, a resident of the Atarsuiya area of Prayagraj, of fraud, criminal conspiracy, and intimidation. According to the complaint, the accused collected large sums of money from him between 2018 and 2022 for proposed film projects, but neither the projects materialised nor was the investment returned. In another case, Chhaya Hardaha, a resident of Civil Lines, lost Rs 82,256 while attempting to receive an online order. She alleged that fraudsters posing as company representatives and officials convinced her to transfer money through various channels under the guise of delivery and refund procedures. A complaint has been registered at the Civil Lines police station. Bibin Ekka, a resident of Bishop House on Thornhill Road, Prayagraj also fell victim to cybercrime. In his complaint lodged at the Civil Lines police station, he stated that a caller identifying himself as Vikas Kumar Sahani fraudulently withdrew Rs 2,03,989 from his bank account through multiple transactions. A similar fraud targeted Neeraj Kumar, an assistant sub-inspector posted in the intelligence department and residing in Dhoomanganj. He alleged that after facing a technical issue while making a credit card payment, he received a call from a person posing as a bank representative. The caller tricked him into sharing details and withdrew Rs 49,998 from his account under the pretext of processing a refund. Meanwhile, Preeti Srivastava, a resident of Georgetown, was cheated of Rs 95,000 after receiving a fraudulent APK file on WhatsApp. The sender allegedly posed as an employee of Adani Gas and persuaded her to open the file. Once installed, the application compromised her mobile phone, enabling the fraudsters to transfer money from her bank account. Police officials said all complaints have been registered and investigations are underway. The cyber cell is examining digital evidence and transaction records to trace the accused and recover the stolen funds....