A young woman from Agra fell prey to a sophisticated cyber fraud after being lured with online rating tasks and high-profit investment offers. Within just three days, the fraudsters managed to extort ₹22.95 lakh from her under the guise of online work and digital trading. The police have registered a case and launched an investigation.
How It All Began
According to Yashika Gupta, a resident of Shahganj, the ordeal started on October 7, when she received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number. The sender claimed to offer online “location rating” tasks that paid ₹50 per review. Initially, after completing a few assignments, Yashika received small payments directly into her account, which helped build her trust.
Soon after, she was added to a Telegram group, supposedly managed by a “finance team.” There, she was told she could earn higher profits by reviewing content related to the economy — but to participate, she would have to make a small investment.
The Trap of “High Returns”
Yashika first invested ₹2,000, and to her surprise, she received ₹2,800 in return the same day. Encouraged, she agreed to invest more — ₹15,000 next — after being promised bigger tasks and higher rewards. Every time she invested, a portion of the money was returned as “profit,” while the scammers pushed her to invest even larger amounts for “premium tasks.”
By October 10, she had transferred a total of ₹22.95 lakh into several accounts — most of it borrowed from friends and relatives. However, when she requested to withdraw her money, the fraudsters claimed that her account had been “frozen” and demanded more funds to “reactivate” it.
The Realization and Complaint
When payments stopped altogether and excuses piled up, Yashika realized she had been deceived. Mentally distressed, she approached the Cyber Crime Police Station in Agra and filed a formal complaint.
Investigation Underway
Inspector, in charge of the Cyber Police Station, confirmed that a case has been registered and technical teams are analyzing transaction trails, bank accounts, and mobile numbers linked to the fraud.
“The scammers built trust through small payments and then trapped the victim in a web of false investments. We are tracing the money flow and identifying the individuals involved,” said Inspector Singh.
A Growing Trend in Online Scams
Cyber experts note that such “task-based investment scams” are becoming increasingly common across India. The fraudsters contact individuals via WhatsApp or Telegram, offer easy tasks for small commissions, and then lure them into depositing large sums with promises of extraordinary returns.
Officials have urged citizens to avoid clicking on unknown links or joining unsolicited online groups, especially those that promise quick money.
Safety Tip: Always verify the legitimacy of any online earning or investment offer. In case of fraud, report immediately to the 1930 cyber helpline or visit www.cybercrime.gov.in.
