A 31-year-old engineer employed at a private firm in Hinjewadi has fallen victim to a cryptocurrency-linked part-time job scam, losing a total of ₹25 lakh. The fraud unfolded over 15 days, combining a fake investment scheme with a phone-hacking attack that allowed scammers to siphon money directly from the victim’s bank accounts. The engineer has lodged a complaint with the Hinjewadi police.
From WhatsApp offer to 30% commission promise: How the trap was set
Investigators revealed that the scam began on November 5, when the victim received a WhatsApp message offering a part-time work-from-home role. After replying, he was added to a group where members promised up to 30% commission for completing cryptocurrency “tasks.”
To build credibility, group administrators instructed him to transfer funds to multiple bank accounts under the guise of legitimate investment cycles. Believing the scheme was genuine, the engineer transferred ₹16.45 lakh between November 5 and 13, expecting significant returns.
Profit withdrawal attempt triggers fresh demands, raising suspicions
When the victim attempted to withdraw his alleged profits, he was asked to make additional payments to “unlock” the returns. Finding this demand suspicious, he ceased communication with the group and filed an online complaint.
But the scammers had already planned the next phase.
Malicious links compromise device; scammers gain remote control
On the evening of November 13, the victim received two links from unknown numbers. Believing them to be related to pending transactions, he clicked on both. The links activated remote-access malware, giving the fraudsters complete control over his phone, including messages, OTPs, and banking apps.
Using this access, the scammers executed a fresh round of unauthorized transactions. Between November 18 and 20, ₹8.58 lakh was siphoned from two of the victim’s bank accounts.
₹25 lakh total loss; police flag rising trend of multi-layered cyber fraud
A Hinjewadi police official confirmed the total loss and highlighted that the scam demonstrates a two-stage fraud pattern: first luring the victim with fake investments, then taking control of devices to directly withdraw money.
An FIR has been registered under relevant IPC and IT Act sections. Cybercrime investigators are analyzing the malicious links, tracking the accounts, and examining the devices used by the scammers.
Police advisory: Stay alert to unsolicited job offers and unknown links
Authorities noted a spike in part-time job scams, particularly those promising crypto-based commissions or payment-based tasks. Citizens have been advised to:
- Avoid clicking on links from unknown numbers or groups
- Never transfer money for “verification” or task completion
- Refrain from joining unverified WhatsApp/Telegram groups promising high returns
- Avoid installing screen-sharing or remote-access apps
- Immediately report incidents on the NCRP portal
Cyber team tracing funds; investigating interstate or larger syndicate links
Investigators are mapping the money trail to identify beneficiary accounts and determine if mule accounts were used. Numbers that sent malware links are also under forensic examination.
Authorities stressed the importance of verifying any job or investment offer received through social media or messaging platforms, as scammers increasingly exploit informal communication channels to target working professionals.
