Rajkot: A 45-year-old farmer from Gujarat’s Junagadh range has fallen victim to a work-from-home cyber scam, losing ₹24.78 lakh over a span of five months. The complaint was lodged at the Cyber Crime police station after the victim realised he had been repeatedly deceived under the pretext of an online earning opportunity.
The complainant, Kishor Parmar, a resident of Bodka village in Manavadar taluka, stated that the fraud began on November 27, 2024. He received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number, with the sender impersonating his acquaintance, Amisha Arora from Chandigarh. The message offered him an opportunity to earn money through an online work-from-home assignment.
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Trusting the identity of the sender, Parmar followed the instructions provided in the chat. He was asked to download a specific mobile application, create a user ID and make an initial deposit of ₹42,000 as a registration or activation fee. Believing it to be a legitimate opportunity, he complied.
According to the complaint, between December 2, 2024 and April 22, 2025, Parmar transferred funds to multiple bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. During this period, he cumulatively deposited ₹15.78 lakh, under the impression that he was completing assigned online tasks and generating profits.
When he later attempted to withdraw his principal amount along with the promised earnings, the accused allegedly demanded additional payments. They claimed that processing the withdrawal of a larger payout required payment of “service charges,” “processing fees” and “taxes” amounting to over ₹9 lakh.
Believing that these were mandatory formalities, Parmar arranged and transferred the demanded sums. This raised his total financial loss to ₹24.78 lakh. However, even after the final payment, the fraudsters continued demanding more money, citing fresh procedural hurdles. It was at this stage that Parmar suspected foul play and realised he had been cheated.
A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. Investigators are examining the bank accounts where the funds were transferred and analysing digital communication records to trace the accused.
Officials indicated that such work-from-home scams have seen a rise in recent months, with fraudsters targeting individuals in semi-urban and rural areas. Typically, scammers lure victims with promises of easy online income, initially allowing small visible gains to build trust before demanding larger deposits under various pretexts.
Cybercrime experts advise citizens to verify unsolicited job offers, avoid downloading unknown applications and refrain from transferring money to unfamiliar accounts. Authorities have urged the public to immediately report suspicious online activity to cyber helplines to prevent further financial losses.
The investigation is ongoing, and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend those involved in the fraudulent network.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
