A fresh case of cyber fraud linked to a work-from-home job has surfaced, where a young man lost around ₹7.44 lakh after being lured with fake tasks and investment schemes. The fraudsters gradually gained his trust and siphoned off his savings. A complaint has been filed, and an investigation is currently underway.
How Small Review Tasks Built Trust in This Work-From-Home Scam
According to the complaint, the victim began receiving messages from multiple mobile numbers in November 2024, offering part-time work that could be done from home. Initially, he was assigned simple tasks such as posting online reviews. For completing these tasks, he received small payments, which helped the fraudsters build credibility and gain his confidence.
After completing a few assignments, he was paid ₹300. Soon after, he was added to a Telegram group named “VVIP Webbull,” where he was told he could earn quick profits by making small investments. This marked the beginning of the larger fraud.
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Victim Transfers ₹7.44 Lakh Across Multiple Banks in Telegram Job Fraud
As per the complaint, the accused repeatedly encouraged him to participate in various “tasks” and “investment plans,” assuring him that he would receive his money along with profits within minutes. Driven by this promise and the initial trust built, the victim started transferring money in multiple instalments to different bank accounts.
Over a span of nearly two months, he transferred a total of ₹7,44,824 to accounts across several banks, including Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, RBL Bank, and Punjab National Bank. The fraudsters carefully designed each step to appear legitimate, providing instructions and updates to avoid raising suspicion.
Fake Website Freeze and Endless Demands Expose the Investment Scam
To make the operation look authentic, the accused created a login account for the victim on a fake website, where his supposed earnings and returns were displayed. However, when he attempted to withdraw the funds, he was informed that his account had been “frozen.” He was then asked to deposit an additional ₹2.5 lakh to unfreeze it.
The victim complied and made the payment, but even after that, no money was returned. Instead, the fraudsters continued to demand more funds on various pretexts, such as a “low credit score” or “system errors,” putting him under pressure to keep paying.
Investigation Underway as Authorities Warn Against Online Job Scams
Eventually, when the victim grew suspicious and insisted on withdrawing his money, all communication was cut off. The Telegram group was deleted, and the mobile numbers used by the accused became unreachable. Realizing he had been cheated, he approached authorities and filed a complaint.
Preliminary investigation suggests that this could be part of a larger, organized cyber fraud network involving bank accounts across multiple states. Such scams typically follow a pattern—fraudsters first offer small payments to build trust and then lure victims into investing larger amounts.
Experts say work-from-home and part-time job scams are on the rise, with cybercriminals increasingly using social media platforms, messaging apps, and Telegram groups to target individuals. These scams often exploit the promise of quick and easy earnings to trap victims.
The incident once again highlights the risks of blindly trusting online job or investment offers. Any scheme that begins with small payments to build confidence should be approached with caution.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, tracing digital transactions and bank accounts in an effort to identify and apprehend those involved in the fraud.
