ED attaches ₹1.06 crore assets in Meghalaya's 'Global Media App' Ponzi scam
Synopsis
A fake ad-watching app that promised daily passive income duped investors of nearly ₹45.33 crore before vanishing in October 2022. The ED has now attached ₹1.06 crore in assets, with trails leading to Cambodia-registered Telegram admins and Tether crypto routed through the TRON blockchain — revealing a sophisticated cross-border Ponzi operation.
Key Takeaways
The ED's Shillong Sub-Zonal Office provisionally attached ₹1.06 crore in movable assets linked to the "Global Media App" Ponzi fraud.
Total proceeds of crime identified so far amount to nearly ₹45.33 crore .
The scheme operated between 3 June 2022 and 12 October 2022 , promising daily returns for watching ad videos.
Nearly ₹2.45 crore in Tether cryptocurrency was routed via the TRON blockchain to a foreign exchange.
The Telegram channel promoting the app was allegedly run by four individuals using mobile numbers registered in Cambodia and Malaysia .
The case was registered at Madanriting Police Station in East Khasi Hills , Meghalaya, under the PMLA, 2002 .
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Shillong Sub-Zonal Office, has provisionally attached movable properties worth ₹1.06 crore in connection with the "Global Media App" fraud case, which allegedly involved large-scale cheating of investors through a fake online earning and investment scheme, officials said on Saturday, 9 May 2025. The probe was initiated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, based on a First Information Report registered at Madanriting Police Station in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district.
How the Ponzi Scheme Worked
According to investigators, the accused operated the "Global Media App" as a Ponzi-style investment scheme disguised as an online advertising platform. Users were promised daily passive income for watching advertisement videos, with operators persuading victims to purchase various VIP membership plans in exchange for assurances of high daily returns and referral commissions.
The fraudulent scheme reportedly remained operational between 3 June 2022 and 12 October 2022, after which the operators abruptly shut down the application and disappeared with the collected funds. Funds were allegedly collected through bank transfers, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, and cryptocurrency wallets.
Scale of the Fraud
The ED investigation has so far established that proceeds of crime amounting to nearly ₹45.33 crore were generated through the scheme. Multiple bank accounts, merchant identification accounts, payment gateway accounts, and crypto wallets have been identified as allegedly used for the collection and layering of funds.
Notably, investigators traced nearly ₹2.45 crore collected from victims in the form of Tether cryptocurrency, routed through the TRON blockchain network to accounts on a foreign cryptocurrency exchange.
International Links Uncovered
The ED revealed that the fraud had significant international dimensions. The Telegram channel promoting the app was allegedly administered by four individuals using mobile numbers registered in Cambodia and Malaysia. The Gmail accounts linked to the app's backend operations were registered with Cambodia as the terms-of-service country, pointing to a cross-border operation designed to evade domestic law enforcement.
This comes amid a broader national pattern of app-based Ponzi schemes targeting semi-urban and rural investors, several of which have had similar international routing structures uncovered by the ED in recent years.
Current Status of the Investigation
The provisional attachment of ₹1.06 crore in movable assets marks a significant step, though it represents a fraction of the ₹45.33 crore in alleged proceeds of crime identified so far. Further investigation is underway, officials said, with authorities continuing to trace additional assets and identify all accused persons involved in the scheme.
Point of View
Foreign SIM cards, and offshore backend registrations to stay ahead of investigators. The ₹1.06 crore attachment against ₹45.33 crore in identified proceeds underscores how difficult asset recovery remains in cross-border digital fraud. India's enforcement machinery is catching up, but the gap between proceeds generated and assets attached signals that most money has already been moved beyond easy reach. The Cambodia-Malaysia connection also raises questions about whether bilateral legal assistance mechanisms are fast enough to address real-time crypto laundering.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Global Media App' Ponzi scam in Meghalaya?
The 'Global Media App' was a fraudulent online platform that posed as an advertising service, promising users daily passive income for watching ad videos. It operated as a Ponzi-style scheme between June and October 2022, collecting funds through bank transfers, UPI, and cryptocurrency before its operators shut it down and disappeared.
How much money was involved in the Global Media App fraud?
The ED has identified proceeds of crime amounting to nearly ₹45.33 crore generated through the scheme. Of this, ₹1.06 crore in movable assets has been provisionally attached so far, with the investigation ongoing.
What are the international links in this case?
The Telegram channel promoting the app was allegedly administered by four individuals using mobile numbers registered in Cambodia and Malaysia. Gmail accounts linked to the app's backend were also registered with Cambodia as the terms-of-service country, indicating a cross-border operation.
How was cryptocurrency used in the fraud?
Investigators traced nearly ₹2.45 crore collected from victims in the form of Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency, which was routed through the TRON blockchain network to accounts on a foreign cryptocurrency exchange, making the funds harder to trace and recover.
What is the current status of the ED investigation?
The ED has provisionally attached ₹1.06 crore in movable assets and continues to investigate. Multiple bank accounts, merchant accounts, payment gateway accounts, and crypto wallets have been identified, and further probe is underway to trace remaining assets and accused persons.
