A 42-year-old businessman from Koparkhairane, Navi Mumbai, has reportedly lost Rs 2.74 crore to an online betting scam spanning over two years. The incident, which occurred between December 2022 and April 2025, came to light after the victim lodged a formal complaint at the Cyber Police Station earlier this week. Following his report, an FIR has been registered under the Information Technology Act for cheating and cyber fraud.
According to officials, the businessman had created an account on the betting website www.satsports.com, where he participated in various online games including Teen Patti and casino-based gambling. Lured by assurances of substantial profits, he proceeded to transfer approximately Rs 3.25 crore into multiple bank accounts provided by the platform administrators.
Initially, the platform appeared legitimate. The victim’s profile reflected winning amounts, and he was even able to successfully withdraw Rs 50 lakh. However, his suspicions were aroused when the remaining balance disappeared from his account without explanation. Upon questioning the administrators, he allegedly received vague and evasive responses, prompting him to suspect fraudulent activity.
“The complainant became suspicious when he could no longer access his winnings and saw a zero balance in his account,” said Police Inspector Vishal Patil from the Cyber Police Station. “Our preliminary investigation has confirmed that the platform operates internationally, and the administrators were using VPN services to mask their location.”
The cyber cell has also managed to trace the bank accounts into which the victim transferred his betting funds. Authorities are currently working to identify the individuals behind the operation and assess the scope of the fraud, which may involve more victims.
The case underscores growing concerns about unregulated online betting platforms, many of which operate under the guise of legitimate gaming while exploiting unsuspecting users. Police have advised the public to avoid engaging with unauthorized gambling websites and to report suspicious platforms immediately.
