Nagpur: A 23-year-old final-year MBBS student in Nagpur allegedly lost Rs 12.33 lakh after falling victim to an online gaming fraud involving a Ludo application that promised users monetary rewards for playing games.
The incident came to light after the student, enrolled at Government Medical College, Nagpur, was cheated through an application called ‘Try Players’. According to a police official, the student discovered the platform through an advertisement while watching videos on YouTube.
The application reportedly attracted users by offering opportunities to earn money through online Ludo games. The student initially received small returns, which allegedly convinced him that the platform was genuine. Encouraged by these early gains, he continued depositing larger amounts.
Police said the student eventually transferred a total of Rs 12,33,184 through multiple UPI IDs and bank accounts associated with the platform.
However, the transactions took a different turn when he began losing money repeatedly. Suspecting foul play, he approached the application’s customer support helpline to understand the continuous losses.
During the interaction, he reportedly discovered that the game was manipulated and that the platform was not operating fairly. Subsequently, the people behind the application allegedly blocked him, cutting off further communication.
Following the complaint, police registered a case against the operators of two mobile numbers under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the accused, the official said.
The incident highlights the risks associated with online gaming applications that advertise easy earnings and use small initial payouts to encourage users to deposit larger sums. Users are advised to exercise caution before transferring money to unfamiliar gaming platforms.
