Businesswoman in Hyderabad Scammed of ₹2.8 Crore by Fake Coffee Company with Chris Gayle’s Name

In a strange turn of events, a 60-year-old businesswoman from Hyderabad was allegedly tricked out of ₹2.8 crore by six people, including her own brother. The scammers, in an attempt to spice up their story, falsely claimed that West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle was a promoter of a fake coffee powder company, hoping to lure in investments. According to reports, it looks like they were brewing more than just coffee in this elaborate scam.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that six individuals, including her brother, masterminded the scam. The fraudulent investment scheme, worth ₹5.7 crore and promising substantial returns, led to major financial losses for her and others involved. In 2019, the businesswoman was approached by her brother and his wife, who persuaded her to invest in a coffee powder manufacturing company, promising a 4% monthly return. They claimed the company was based in Kenya and expanding to the US, according to a report.

To gain her trust, the accused allegedly showed her photos and videos of West Indian cricketer Chris Gayle, falsely stating that he was a promoter of the company. The accused also told her that the company's owner was a person they knew, and one of them was about to become a partner, as per central crime station officials.Trusting her brother, the woman invested ₹2.8 crore and encouraged family and friends to invest an additional ₹2.2 crore. Other investors contributed ₹70 lakh, bringing the total investment to ₹5.7 crore. Initially, the accused paid returns, making the business appear legitimate.

However, the payments eventually stopped. When the woman confronted her brother, he claimed that their children had confirmed the operations of the US unit. Despite multiple requests for updates, the accused avoided providing answers, and when pressed further, the woman's brother allegedly verbally abused her. Out of the ₹5.7 crore invested, the victims only received ₹90 lakh in returns.