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A woman from Sector 11-B in Chandigarh fell victim to an online job scam, resulting in a loss of ₹10.99 lakh. The cybercrime cell of the Chandigarh Police arrested two individuals, Sunny and Vijay Kumar, both residents of Singha Devi, Naya Gaon, Mohali, in connection with the fraud.
Accused Lured Victim via WhatsApp
The victim, Snigdha Reddy, reported receiving a WhatsApp message offering payment for simple online tasks, such as liking videos. Enticed by the prospect, she was added to a Telegram group where she was promised significant returns on advance payments.
Initially, Reddy invested ₹1,000 and received ₹1,300 in return, fostering trust in the scheme. Subsequently, she was persuaded to transfer larger sums under the pretext of earning higher profits. Over time, she transferred a total of ₹10,99,520 to the fraudsters.
Cybercrime Cell Traces Transactions
Upon receiving the complaint on April 19, the cybercrime cell initiated an investigation employing financial and digital forensic tools. They discovered that ₹50,000 had been transferred to Sunny’s bank account. During interrogation, Sunny confessed to opening the account on commission, having been introduced to the scheme by Vijay Kumar.
Vijay Kumar allegedly played a pivotal role in connecting Sunny to the broader network orchestrating the scam. Both accused admitted their involvement and provided information about another prime suspect who remains at large.
The police have preserved all relevant digital and financial evidence. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend additional individuals involved in the fraudulent operation. Authorities urge the public to exercise caution when approached with unsolicited online job offers and to report any suspicious activities to the cybercrime cell.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.
