In a sobering reminder of the perils of online fraud, a 26-year-old woman from Hyderabad fell victim to an elaborate employment scam, losing ₹2.65 lakh. The incident underscores the rising tide of cybercrimes targeting unsuspecting individuals through social media and messaging platforms. Here’s a detailed account of the scam, its modus operandi, and the steps individuals can take to avoid falling prey.
Earn Online Job Scam
The victim, employed in the private sector, received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number. The sender introduced themselves as a representative of a company offering part-time job opportunities with the promise of easy money. These tasks were seemingly harmless, such as liking videos online.
Initially, the victim was added to a WhatsApp group where daily assignments were distributed. To complete these tasks, participants were required to share screenshots of their work alongside their bank account details. The group administrator, operating under the alias ‘@FinanceNSEAjyo9999’, seemed professional and trustworthy, particularly when small payments were credited to the victim’s account as a reward for completing initial tasks.
The scammer employed classic techniques to gain the victim’s trust: After completing her first tasks, the victim received small sums in her bank account. This token gesture helped establish credibility and encouraged her to continue. The perpetrator used official-sounding terminology and operated through a well-structured WhatsApp group, creating an illusion of legitimacy. The next step involved registering on a website using an invitation code. The registration process was free, further lowering the victim’s defenses. Once registered, the scammer informed the victim that her account was confirmed with a ‘merchant’.
The victim’s confidence soared when she earned a profit of ₹3,300 after depositing ₹2,000 for one of the tasks. Encouraged by this seemingly lucrative opportunity, she began transferring larger sums to complete subsequent tasks. Each deposit promised higher returns, convincing her of the scheme’s profitability.
However, with every attempted withdrawal, the scammer imposed new conditions. The victim was repeatedly asked to deposit additional sums under various pretexts claiming that further deposits were necessary to withdraw her earnings. Scammer also imposed Penalties for supposed mistakes made during the process of these transactions before asking the the big amount to conduct an exit scam. The victim eventually realized she had been duped when the scammer requested yet another payment to release her accumulated earnings. By this time, she had already lost ₹2.65 lakh. Feeling betrayed, she filed a complaint with the Hyderabad cybercrime police, who promptly registered a case and initiated an investigation.
Police Investigation and Warnings
The Hyderabad cybercrime police have launched a thorough investigation into the incident, aiming to trace the individuals behind the scam. In the meantime, they have issued a stern warning to the public about the dangers of online investment schemes. Citizens are urged to remain cautious of unsolicited messages on platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, and Facebook.
If you encounter or fall victim to a similar scam, take the following steps immediately: File a Complaint by Contacting your local cybercrime cell. In India, you can file complaints online through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in) then notify your bank about the fraudulent transactions to prevent further unauthorized activities. Also make sure to share your experience to warn others about the scam.
The Hyderabad employment scam serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities we face in an increasingly digital world. With cybercriminals devising ever more sophisticated schemes, vigilance and education remain our strongest defenses. By adopting safe online practices and staying informed about emerging threats, we can collectively thwart such malicious activities.
