Bigg Boss OTT 3 fame Adnaan Shaikh duped of over ?5 lakh in gym business by close friend

Popular content creator and Bigg Boss OTT 3 contestant Adnaan Shaikh recently shared a deeply personal and troubling experience he was cheated out of more than ?5 lakh by someone he considered family.

In a recent conversation with The Hindustan Times, Adnaan revealed how a person he had known since childhood, someone from his inner circle, ended up scamming him. “The very person was the most trusted, someone from my inner circle who mismanaged my gym business and scammed me. It led to the loss of money and theft of costly gym equipment – over rupees 5 lakhs,” he shared.

It all started in June this year when the individual, a close friend of Adnaan’s brother, reached out for support. “He was well known to me and my brother. He was more like a friend and also lived close by. I even helped fund his sister's wedding,” Adnaan revealed.

When Adnaan launched his first gym in Mumbai a dream he had nurtured for years he gave the person the responsibility of managing its social media. “Soon he requested a job, and I gave him one in my gym. But sadly, within a year and a half, he broke that trust,” Adnaan said.

The very person was the most trusted, someone from my inner circle who mismanaged my gym business and scammed me. It led to the loss of money and theft of costly gym equipment – over rupees 5 lakhs

- Adnaan Shaikh

Adnaan initially ignored discrepancies in the accounts, but things eventually added up. “I avoided the prevailing discrepancies in accounts for some time. But then I had to confront him,” he said.

The person attempted to cover up the fraud with a false excuse, he says, “I cross-checked only to know it was a lie. That's when I realised that it was all made up. Eventually, he confessed to stealing around rupees 4 lakhs.”

The betrayal hit Adnaan hard, prompting him to take legal action. "After this incident, I've become very cautious. It has made it difficult for me to trust new people. Rebuilding that kind of faith takes time."

Looking back, he admits the warning signs were there. "Despite occasional doubt, I continued to trust him because of our long-standing association," he explained.

Now, Adnaan has a strong message for others, he says, “I ask all to be cautious about who you trust with your business or personal responsibilities. No matter how long you've known someone, always maintain proper accountability and regularly monitor your finances. Learn from my experience. Stay alert, stay aware, and protect your hard-earned money.”

While the loss was financial, the emotional setback was far greater for Adnaan. His story is a reminder to never take trust for granted especially when business and money are involved.