The victim received a WhatsApp message from an unknown individual. The individual promised him a part-time job involving simple tasks for returns. However, the victim was later added to a Telegram group, where he ended up investing more money as he was persuaded by scammers.
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New Delhi,UPDATED: Feb 3, 2025 12:27 IST
In yet another case of online task fraud, a resident of Greater Noida ended up losing Rs 51.63 lakh in just five days. The victim first received a WhatsApp message about an easy job that promised money through simple tasks. Later, he was added to a Telegram group where scammers made him invest money for higher profits. In the end, hoping to earn more money in a short time, the victim ended up losing his own money to the scammers.
According to the case reported by Hindustan Times, the case involves a 31-year-old man who lived in Sector 16B, Greater Noida West. The victim, who works at a private firm, began his ordeal on January 18 when he received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number. The sender introduced herself as Pallavi and claimed she could help him earn big profits by simply completing the online tasks she shared.
Interested in the offer and hoping to earn some easy money, the victim agreed to participate. After his approval, the scammer added him to a Telegram group where he received more information related to cryptocurrency investments. Initially, the victim was asked to deposit small amounts ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 8,000 as part of the tasks. Gradually, the scammers managed to manipulate him into making larger transfers under the pretence of increasing his returns.
The scammers even showed the victim a fake online portfolio displaying a profit of Rs 60 lakh, which gave him confidence in the process. However, when he attempted to withdraw the supposed profits, the fraudsters demanded additional payments, citing various charges and fees. This raised the victim’s suspicion, and after discussing the matter with a friend, he realized he had fallen victim to a scam. According to the report, in just five days, the victim made 32 transactions, transferring a total of Rs 51.63 lakh to the scammers.
The victim filed a complaint with the cybercrime branch, and a case has been registered under Sections 318 (cheating) and 319 (cheating by personation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant sections of the IT Act.
Notably, this is not the first case of individual losing money to scammers after falling for fake easy-task and investment promises. In the past few years, many cases have been reported where victims shared how they lost money hoping to earn larger profits by doing online tasks. In these scams, scammers often ask targeted individuals to do tasks like liking YouTube videos, giving reviews, and so on. To gain trust, they even send small amounts of money to the the targeted individuals.
However, as individuals start trusting the scammers, they then propose investment ideas like cryptocurrency wallets and ask victims to invest through fake apps they have created. Once the victim adds money and tries to withdraw it, the scammers either cut off access or even threaten the victim, demanding more money under the pretext of avoiding money laundering charges.
To stay safe from such scams, it is advisable not to fall for such opportunities. If someone reaches out with offers that seem too good to be true, block and report them. Do not download any app they share, as it could be a malicious app designed to steal your sensitive data and empty your bank accounts.
Published By:
Divya Bhati
Published On:
Feb 3, 2025
English (US) ·