Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh). In a fresh case of an elaborate cyber fraud involving fake work-from-home opportunities, a resident of Shalimar Garden in Ghaziabad was allegedly cheated of ₹9.65 lakh by an interstate cybercrime network that used Telegram-based task assignments, fake rating jobs, and cryptocurrency investment traps to exploit victims.
According to police officials, the victim, identified as Subhash Chand Sharma, was targeted in March after he received a message on Telegram from an unknown ID offering part-time online work. The message promised easy earnings through simple tasks such as Google review ratings and online engagement activities.
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Initially, the scammers assigned small tasks and transferred minor payments of ₹100 to ₹160 into the victim’s account, creating a false sense of legitimacy and trust. Once confidence was established, the accused gradually escalated the scheme by introducing cryptocurrency-related “investment tasks” and higher earning promises.
Police said the fraudsters later instructed the victim to invest small sums, starting with ₹1,046, followed by ₹3,156, while assuring him that the money would be returned with higher returns upon completion of assigned tasks. To maintain pressure and control, multiple individuals using aliases interacted with the victim, posing as task managers and financial advisors.
As the scam progressed, the victim was told that his earnings were blocked due to “wrong account transfers” and needed activation through additional payments. He was further misled into believing that his credit score had dropped and that his funds were temporarily frozen due to system errors.
The accused allegedly continued extracting money through different excuses, including account unfreezing charges and commission-based deposits. At one stage, the victim was assured of employment after completing 24 tasks, further strengthening his belief in the fraudulent scheme.
Police officials stated that the scammers later convinced him to transfer larger sums by claiming that 29 percent of the total amount was required for account activation. When the victim attempted to withdraw his funds, he was told that an additional 30 percent “tax” was mandatory to release the money.
By the time the victim realized he had been trapped in a scam, he had already transferred a total of ₹9,65,852 into multiple bank accounts controlled by the fraud network over a period spanning 22 March to 26 April. He subsequently lodged a complaint at the cybercrime police station in Ghaziabad.
Investigators revealed that the scam was orchestrated through coordinated communication channels, with different handlers managing various stages of the fraud. Telegram was used as the primary platform for recruitment, while encrypted messaging and multiple bank accounts were used to route and layer the stolen funds.
A senior police officer stated that initial technical analysis suggests the involvement of an organized cyber syndicate operating across state boundaries. Efforts are underway to trace the bank accounts, mobile numbers, and digital footprints used in the fraud.
Authorities have also initiated coordination with financial institutions to track the money trail and freeze suspicious accounts linked to the case. Cyber experts are examining device logs and transaction records to identify further connections within the network.
Officials noted that such “work-from-home task” scams have been increasing rapidly, where victims are first given small returns to build trust before being pushed into high-value investments. Once large sums are transferred, communication is cut off or additional fake charges are demanded.
Police have urged citizens to remain cautious of unsolicited job offers received through social media or messaging platforms, especially those promising easy income for simple online tasks. They also advised people not to share personal or banking details with unknown contacts.
The case is currently under active investigation, and authorities have indicated that further arrests may follow as the digital evidence is analyzed. Efforts are ongoing to identify the masterminds behind the network and dismantle the broader syndicate involved in similar cyber fraud operations across the region.
