A young man from the Panki police station area in Kanpur was allegedly cheated of ₹3.50 lakh through an online task and reward scam operated through a Telegram group, prompting police to register a case and begin an investigation with the cyber cell.
According to the victim, he received a promotional call on April 8 offering money for simple online activities such as liking, sharing and reviewing content. Small tasks were initially assigned, and minor returns were paid, which helped the fraudsters build trust before asking for larger deposits.
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Telegram Group Used to Push Higher Reward Tasks
After gaining the victim’s confidence, the accused allegedly directed him to transfer money into multiple bank accounts under different pretexts. They remained in contact through WhatsApp and Telegram and encouraged him to participate in so-called higher reward tasks that required increasing payments.
Investigators found that between April 8 and April 10, the victim transferred money in 58 separate transactions through different UPI IDs and bank accounts. During the process, funds were also transferred from his mother’s bank account, reportedly without full awareness of the extent of the fraud.
Once a significant amount had been collected, the accused stopped responding. When the victim demanded his money back or asked for completion of the promised services, all communication channels were cut off.
Cyber Cell Tracks Bank Accounts and UPI IDs
Following the complaint, police registered a case and began analysing technical evidence, mobile numbers and banking transaction records. Officials are tracing the flow of money through multiple bank accounts and UPI IDs used in the fraud.
Investigators said the case followed a common pattern in which scammers first offer small returns to create trust and then introduce verification charges or unlock payment processes to justify repeated transfers.
Police said cybercriminals often layer transactions through several bank accounts to make tracking and recovery difficult. The stolen money is quickly diverted through a chain of accounts to avoid detection.
Police Warn Against Online Reward Schemes
Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious while dealing with unknown Telegram groups, suspicious links and online task-based earning offers. Police said no legitimate company pays users for random online tasks through unknown groups or unverified links.
Officials also warned people not to share OTPs, UPI PINs or banking credentials with anyone, regardless of claims made through phone calls or social media platforms. Victims have been advised to report cyber fraud immediately on the national cyber helpline number 1930.
Cyber cell teams are examining suspect bank accounts and digital records to determine whether the operators are part of a larger interstate cyber fraud network. Police are also trying to identify other possible victims linked to the same group.
