Torrent Pharma Brand Misused in Online Investment Scam, Fake Portals Promising High Returns Busted
Ahmedabad: A major cyber fraud has come to light after criminals set up fake websites using the name of Torrent Pharmaceuticals to lure investors with promises of unusually high returns.
The scam was exposed when a resident of Surendranagar contacted Torrent Pharma’s official helpline to inquire about “profits” he was promised from one such investment plan. The company’s legal manager, Siddharth Kale, then filed a complaint with Navrangpura police on Thursday.
According to the FIR, the fraudsters created websites such as torrenthealthier.com, torrentbiotech.com, and torrentbiology.com. These portals used the company’s branding and logo to appear legitimate while promoting investment schemes. One advertisement read: “Invest Rs 670 and earn Rs 275 daily for a total of Rs 14,025 in 51 days.”
The fake websites were circulated aggressively on social media platforms, including Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram, tricking multiple people into believing they were official Torrent Pharma initiatives. Kale noted in his complaint, “We discovered that many others were being targeted through different numbers, all connected to these fake websites.”
Police stated the accused exploited Torrent’s brand credibility to build trust with victims. A Navrangpura police officer commented, “This is a serious case of identity theft where criminals exploited a trusted brand to trap people.”
A case has been registered under provisions of the Information Technology Act for identity theft, and investigators are working to trace those behind the scam.
Times of India reports that the authorities have issued an alert urging people not to fall prey to fraudulent investment plans that misuse the names of reputed pharmaceutical companies.
