Puja Banerjee and Kunal Verma say they have been cheated by a friend, lost all their life savings: ‘Zero par laakar khada kar diya'; how to stay vigilant

Indian Express

12-06-2025

Actor-couple Puja Banerjee and Kunal Verma disclosed that they have fallen prey to a major financial scam and lost all their savings. Without revealing details, the Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna actors, who got married in 2020, shared that they had been cheated by someone they had trusted for the past three years. Expressing that they are reeling from the 'deep shock', and dealing with the devastating impact of the incident, Puja — in the video titled 'Lowest phase of our lives…need your support and prayers in this difficult time' — said, 'These past 2-3 months have been extremely difficult for us, and we have no idea what will happen next. We have been victims of a fraudulent financial scam, and we lost a huge amount.'
She explained that they have taken a while to talk about it publicly. 'Bohot waqt laga humein iske baare mein baat karne mein. (We have taken quite a long time to open up about this). We are both in shock, and Kunal is deeply affected by this. We still get overwhelmed when we talk about it,' Puja continued.
Opening up about the betrayal, Kunal added, 'When you trust someone for the past 3 years. Has been with you, becomes a part of your home and family.'
Despite the fall, the couple is hopeful of emerging resilient.
'Zero par laakar khada kar diya hai par hum zero se waapis shuru karenge. (We have to start from zero, but won't give up. We don't want to give up). All we want is your support and prayers. We have complete trust in God,' Puja said.
Hardeep Singh, founder of Capital Financial Distributors, said fraud committed by friends or acquaintances is a particularly painful and surprisingly common form of deception. The betrayal of trust makes these scams both emotionally and financially damaging. One should stay vigilant and look for red flags,' said Singh.
What is the modus operandi?
Trust is the primary tool. Fraudsters who are friends or acquaintances exploit existing trust, making their requests for money or investment seem legitimate.
'It is observed that these scams often involve requests to borrow money (with no intention to repay), or invitations to join multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes that are actually pyramid scams, and very high return guaranteed plans. Also, the scammer may share personal stories or emergencies to create urgency and lower your guard,' explained Singh.
What to do?
Victims often feel embarrassed and may blame themselves, which leads to under-reporting and isolation. 'Scamster must be spoken about in social circles, which would help others avoid such people. We need to stay aware and always take a moment to verify the situation before sending money, even if the request comes from someone you know,' said Singh.
*Confirm the legitimacy of the request.
*Be wary of urgent requests, especially those involving secrecy, pressure, or emotional stories that demand immediate action.
*Keep records of requests and conversations, which can help if you need to report the fraud later.
*Share your story to create awareness, which may help someone avoid cheating.