A major cyber fraud case in Punjab has brought attention to the alleged role of a woman identified as Anamika Roy who is believed to have played a key part in luring a Ludhiana-based businessman into a multi-crore cryptocurrency scam through a classic “honey trap” strategy.According to police sources, the accused initially contacted the victim, Jagdeep Singla, via Facebook using the profile name “Anamika Roy,” which investigators suspect was a fake identity.What began as a casual online interaction gradually evolved into a relationship of trust. Through friendly conversations and consistent engagement, the woman allegedly gained the victim’s confidence over time, a tactic commonly seen in cyber-enabled trap operations.Authorities say that once trust was established, “Roy” introduced the businessman to cryptocurrency investments, claiming access to lucrative opportunities on an international trading platform. She reportedly portrayed herself as financially savvy and well-connected in crypto markets, convincing the victim that he could earn high returns with minimal risk.As the interaction deepened, the victim was guided to register on a platform named “Konex VIP 2,” which appeared legitimate but was later found to be a cloned and fraudulent website. The woman remained a constant point of contact, reassuring him about the safety of his investments and encouraging larger deposits. Police believe her role was crucial in maintaining psychological influence over the victim, especially during moments of hesitation.The trap aspect became evident as the victim continued investing increasing amounts, reportedly totaling nearly Rs 20 crore. The fake platform displayed fabricated profits, showing exponential growth in his investments, which further reinforced his trust.Whenever doubts arose, the woman allegedly intervened to reassure him, often redirecting him to supposed “customer care representatives,” who were actually part of the fraud syndicate.Investigators say this emotional manipulation, combined with technical deception, created a powerful trap. The victim only realized the fraud when he attempted to withdraw funds and was asked to pay additional charges under various pretexts, including taxes and processing fees.Police officials have described the case as one of the largest cyber scams in Punjab, involving a well-organized network using fake identities, multiple SIM cards, and dozens of bank accounts across states. The role of Anayika Roy is now under scrutiny, with authorities working to determine whether she is a real individual or a fabricated persona used by the syndicate.What the FIR saysThe FIR states that the fraud was carried out by an organised cybercrime syndicate using fake digital identities, spoofed online platforms, and multiple mule bank accounts which duped him of Rs 19.84 crore.The fraud began when the victim was contacted on Facebook and later through WhatsApp by individuals posing as representatives of a crypto exchange. A woman using the name “Anamika Roy” gained his trust and encouraged him to invest. Initially, he deposited a small amount, but over time he was persuaded to transfer larger sums into multiple bank accounts.The complainant began investing on May 15, 2025, starting with Rs 1 lakh. Over time, he transferred large sums of money into various bank accounts provided by the accused. The FIR notes that the fraudsters operated a fake investment platform that displayed fabricated profits, showing his funds had grown. Believing the returns were genuine, the victim continued to invest more money. In total, money was transferred into 76 mule accounts across 15 banks in different states.When he attempted to withdraw the funds, the accused demanded additional payments under different pretexts, including taxes and “green channel” fees. The FIR also highlights that the accused used multiple fake SIM cards and routed the money through dozens of bank accounts across several states. It concludes that the victim was deceived into transferring Rs 19.84 crore through a well-planned and coordinated scam.