Singer Neha Kakkar’s identity exploited in trading scam: Mumbai Lawyer loses Rs 5 lakh

A Mumbai-based lawyer fell victim to a sophisticated cyber scam where fraudsters impersonated Bollywood singer Neha Kakkar to promote the fraudulent trading platform FXOnet, siphoning Rs 5 lakh. The scam involved manipulated videos and fake social media ads. The Worli Police have launched an investigation into the elaborate con, urging vigilance against such identity-based financial traps.

FIR filed under fake celebrity plug

As per the FIR lodged at Worli police station, Advocate Shabnam Mohammad Hussain Syed (45), a Worli resident, encountered online ads and manipulated videos in June 2025 falsely claiming Neha Kakkar endorsed FXOnet, a “reliable and legal trading platform.” Convinced by the fake celebrity plug, Syed contacted two scammers posing as FXOnet agents—Vijay and Jimmy D’Souza. Communicating via international numbers, Telegram (@fxonetlbot), Zoom calls, and polished emails, the duo crafted a façade of legitimacy.

About Mumbai scam for Rs 5 Lakh

The scammers persuaded Syed to create a trading account, promising lucrative returns via “expert guidance.” Between June 18 and October 9, 2025, she wired ?5,02,025 from her HDFC Bank account to multiple accounts: Rajesh Kannan (PONNURAKU@SUPERYES), VPI ProMedia Kigali, India Impex Trading Company, and VPI 361 VPECOM.

When Syed received neither profits nor refunds, she realized she’d been scammed—and rushed to the police.

The Worli Police have filed a case under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, tracing Telegram messages, Zoom recordings, and UPI transactions to hunt down the culprits. Authorities are working to unravel the network behind the FXOnet scam.

Rising trend of scams using celebrity identities

Authorities are sounding the alarm on a growing cybercrime trend where scammers hijack celebrity names to create fake endorsements, preying on unsuspecting victims’ trust. “Exploiting fame to lure people into fraud is their standard tactic,” officials warn. This scheme’s sophistication—using manipulated videos, social media ads, and polished communication—makes it hard to distinguish fact from fiction.

The Mumbai Police have seen this before. In a prior case, a fraudster impersonated Hollywood star Keanu Reeves, swindling ?65,000 from a 69-year-old Versova woman by claiming he needed flight money to India.