A 23-year-old law student in Pune was cheated of 1,468 USDT after being lured by a fake Snapchat persona. The fraudster used a Chandigarh influencer's photo to establish credibility.

  • A Pune law student lost 1,468 USDT (approx. ₹1.41 lakh) in a crypto scam.
  • The perpetrator used a fake Snapchat profile named 'Princika Joshi'.
  • The fraudster mimicked a female voice to gain the victim's trust.
  • The accused, Kunal Jitendra Admane, has been arrested by Pune police.

In a sophisticated cybercrime incident, a 25-year-old man successfully duped a Pune-based law student of 1,468 USDT, valued at approximately ₹1.41 lakh. The scammer utilized social engineering tactics, specifically impersonating a woman through voice modulation on Snapchat, to orchestrate the fraud.

The victim reported that the interaction began on October 10, 2025, when he received a friend request from a user named 'Princika Joshi'. The persona, speaking in a convincing female voice, promised high returns through cryptocurrency trading. Following the advice, the student set up a Binance account and coordinated with an 'online agent' to procure USDT.

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The Modus Operandi

Between January and March 2026, the victim transferred the cryptocurrency to the fraudster's wallet under the guise of a managed investment scheme. The scammer promised to invest the funds and return the principal along with substantial profits. However, no returns were ever realized.

The deception was unraveled when the student used Google Lens to investigate the profile picture of 'Princika Joshi'. The search revealed that the image belonged to a popular influencer from Chandigarh. Upon confrontation, the perpetrator immediately deleted all associated social media accounts to evade detection.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the rise in 'identity theft' combined with 'voice mimicry' represents a new frontier in cybercrime. As digital assets like USDT become more common, scammers are moving away from simple phishing to complex psychological manipulation involving deep-fake-like social interactions.

The psychological element of impersonation is the most dangerous tool in a modern cybercriminal's arsenal.

Following a detailed investigation, the Pune City Cyber Police identified the culprit as Kunal Jitendra Admane, a hotel management professional residing in the Parvati area. Admane was apprehended on August 31, and authorities are investigating if he is part of a larger syndicate.

Historical Background

Cryptocurrency scams have become a global epidemic. Scammers frequently exploit the lack of centralized regulation in the crypto market to move stolen funds through multiple 'mixer' wallets, making recovery extremely difficult for traditional law enforcement agencies.

Did You Know?: USDT (Tether) is a stablecoin pegged to the US Dollar, making it a preferred target for scammers looking to move value quickly across borders.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I verify if a social media contact is real?
Always perform reverse image searches and be wary of profiles that promise guaranteed financial returns.

2. What should I do if I suspect a crypto scam?
Immediately report the transaction to your exchange and file a complaint with the national cybercrime reporting portal.