Agra | A young man in Agra has fallen victim to a sophisticated Telegram-based “task scam”, losing nearly ₹24 lakh after being lured by promises of easy work and double returns.
The fraud followed a familiar but effective pattern: the scammers first returned small amounts of money to build credibility, gradually pushing the victim to invest larger sums until the entire amount was siphoned off.
After realising that he had been cheated, the victim approached the cyber crime police station. An investigation is currently underway.
How the scam unfolded
The victim, Shivam Rajput, a resident of the Bah police station area, was working as a secretary intern with a private company in Delhi. During this period, he was contacted on Telegram by a woman using the name Damyanti Rawat, who claimed to be based in Dehradun.
After several conversations aimed at building trust, she introduced Shivam to an online earning opportunity. He was asked to register on a website —
www.footlocker-sport.com
The website claimed to offer daily income by completing simple online “tasks”.
At first, everything appeared genuine:
- Small tasks were assigned
- Payments were credited on time
- Bonus incentives were offered
At one stage, Shivam deposited ₹10,000 and received ₹20,000 in return.
This initial payout proved to be the turning point.
Encouraged by the apparent success, he was persuaded to deposit progressively larger amounts — ₹50,000, ₹1 lakh, ₹2 lakh and more. Eventually, under continuous pressure and promises of higher returns, he borrowed money and transferred a total of ₹24 lakh.
Soon after, payments stopped entirely. Instead, the scammers began demanding more money under various pretexts, including “task upgrades” and “unlocking frozen funds”. That was when Shivam realised he had been trapped.
FIR registered, police probe underway
Based on the victim’s complaint, a formal case has been registered.
ADCP Aditya Kumar said:
“The matter involves cyber fraud. Bank accounts, transaction trails and digital evidence are being examined. If required, coordination with inter-state agencies will also be carried out.”
Police officials said efforts are being made to trace the beneficiary accounts and identify the individuals behind the Telegram profiles and the website.
Future Crime Research Foundation: ‘This is a classic Telegram task scam’
According to the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), the Agra case fits the textbook pattern of a Telegram Task Scam, a fraud model that has surged across India in recent months.
FCRF experts explained:
“Scammers deliberately return small amounts at the beginning to create trust. Once confidence is built, victims are pushed to increase their investment. As soon as the amount becomes substantial, the system suddenly ‘freezes’, and new charges like processing fees, tax clearance or unlock charges are demanded.”
The foundation noted that such fraud networks typically operate using:
- Fake names and profile photos
- Telegram and WhatsApp channels
- Foreign-registered domains and cloned websites
- Multiple bank accounts, UPI IDs or crypto wallets
FCRF issued a clear warning:
“Any offer that promises quick or guaranteed double returns has a 99% probability of being a scam.”
How to protect yourself: experts’ checklist
- Avoid “task”, “investment” or “work-from-home” offers received on Telegram or social media
- Never sign up on unknown websites shared by strangers
- Do not share bank details, OTPs or UPI PINs
- Do not trust offers just because small amounts were returned initially
- Stop all transactions immediately if pressure to invest more begins
If you are cheated:
- Call the cyber helpline 1930 immediately
- File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in
Experts say early reporting significantly improves the chances of fund recovery.
A growing cybercrime pattern
Similar cases have been reported across Uttar Pradesh and other states, where scammers exploit platforms like Telegram to promote fake “tasks”, “online trading”, “investment clubs” and “double money” schemes.
Cybercrime specialists point out that:
“Greed, urgency and lack of digital awareness — when combined — create the perfect opportunity for cybercriminals.”
Until awareness improves, experts warn, such scams will continue to evolve and target educated, working professionals as well as students.
