Man stages fake robbery after losing father's Hajj funds of Rs1.5 mln in online trading

Lahore police have exposed yet another case of desperation linked to high-risk online trading, where young Pakistanis are increasingly putting life savings — and even family funds — on the line in pursuit of quick profits.

According to officials, a man identified as Obaidullah staged a fake robbery after losing Rs15 lakh in online trading.

Police said the suspect called the emergency helpline, claiming that armed assailants had intercepted him in Gulberg, snatched his car along with the money, and fled.

However, during the probe, investigators found glaring inconsistencies in his statement. Gulberg SHO Taimoor Abbas Khan confirmed that Obaidullah eventually confessed to orchestrating the false robbery story to cover up his trading losses.

The FIR revealed that the money in question was sent by his brothers, Umar and Abdullah, for their father’s upcoming pilgrimage.

Read more: Pakistan govt to prioritize over 60,000 unaccommodated pilgrims for Hajj 2026

Instead of safeguarding the funds, Obaidullah reportedly invested them in risky online trading platforms — and lost the entire amount. In a bid to avoid family backlash, he staged the robbery drama.

Sub-Inspector Saad Iftikhar registered a case against him, leading to Obaidullah’s arrest. Police said further investigation is underway and more details will emerge as the inquiry continues.

Authorities have once again urged citizens to exercise extreme caution when engaging in online investments, stressing that most unverified trading apps and platforms are designed to exploit unsuspecting users.

Officials encouraged people to report suspicious schemes immediately rather than risking their savings on fraudulent ventures.