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A 27-year-old business owner from the electrical poles industry was tricked out of Rs 57.75 lakh in a part-time job scam. Lured by promises of easy money for minimal work, the man transferred a large sum of money over time before realizing he had been scammed. The cybercrime police have filed an FIR against 14 people under various sections of the IPC and IT Act for their involvement. The scam began on August 16, when the victim received a Telegram message from a woman named Ansuya, who introduced him to a part-time job promising Rs 4,650 for three hours of online work each day. After two days, another woman, Abhinaya, contacted him claiming to be associated with 'Mango Fashion.' She guided him to register on the company's platform, where his digital wallet was credited with a Rs 10,000 bonus. As he continued completing tasks, his wallet balance grew, making him believe the opportunity was legitimate. Convinced by Abhinaya's promises of even greater returns, the man invested in Mango Fashion.
The victim was tricked into transferring a substantial amount of Rs 58.06 lakh to various bank accounts provided by the scammers. His digital wallet showed a profit of Rs 76 lakh, but when he tried to withdraw the funds, he could only retrieve a small amount of Rs 30,858 through two transactions. After repeated failed attempts to withdraw larger sums, he realized he had been deceived. On August 29, he contacted the cybercrime helpline and filed a formal complaint, leading to an investigation. Eventually, on December 24, the police registered a complaint against 14 individuals involved in the fraud.
This case exemplifies the growing prevalence of part-time job scams that target unsuspecting individuals through messaging platforms. To avoid falling victim to such schemes, it is advisable to thoroughly verify the legitimacy of any job offers, especially if they are unsolicited. Genuine companies do not request money or investments upfront, and any such requests should raise suspicion. If one finds themselves in a similar situation, it is crucial to promptly report the matter to the authorities to prevent further financial losses.
