A 53-year-old resident of Ulhasnagar, Maharashtra, was duped of a staggering ₹24.61 lakh in an elaborate online task scam. Lured by the promise of easy daily earnings, the victim fell into a well-organized trap involving fake websites, WhatsApp messages, and Telegram groups. The case has been registered with the Ulhasnagar police, and an investigation is currently underway.
The scam began on April 3, when the man received a WhatsApp message claiming he could earn ₹1,500 per day by completing simple online tasks. Enticed by the opportunity, he was directed to create an account on a fraudulent website. Once registered, he was added to a Telegram group where he was assigned daily tasks and exposed to various “investment schemes.”
Initially, the victim was asked to participate in an online furniture auction task. After completing it, a profit of ₹1,300 was shown in his account on the fake platform. Gaining his trust, the scammers convinced him to invest larger amounts with promises of higher returns. Between April 10 and April 30, the victim transferred a total of ₹24.61 lakh in multiple transactions to different accounts provided by the fraudsters.
To keep the illusion alive, the scammers showed him a fake profit balance of ₹17.75 lakh in his account on the fraudulent website. When he attempted to withdraw his earnings, he was told that his CIBIL credit score needed to be increased and that he must deposit an additional ₹8 lakh to proceed. This raised suspicions, prompting the man to stop further payments and report the matter to the police.
The Ulhasnagar Police have registered a case and forwarded the complaint to the Cyber Cell for further investigation. Officials have urged citizens to be extremely cautious when dealing with online offers that promise easy money. They emphasized the need for due diligence before participating in any investment schemes, especially those shared through unverified platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.
With online frauds on the rise, here are some important safety tips to avoid falling prey to such scams:
Never click on unknown links sent via WhatsApp, Telegram, or SMS. Fraudsters often use fake websites or apps to steal personal information.
Promises of making ₹1,500 per day or winning lakhs in prize money are classic red flags. High returns with little to no effort are often signs of a scam.
Do not disclose your bank details, OTPs, PAN, Aadhaar number, or passwords with anyone online — especially if you don't know them personally.
Before making any online investment, thoroughly inspect the website URL. Fake sites often contain spelling errors or use http instead of the secure https protocol.
Legitimate platforms never ask for upfront payments to release your own funds or improve your CIBIL score. Any such demand is a major red flag.
Online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, but awareness is your best defense. Always verify the authenticity of online opportunities and avoid rushing into investments based on flashy promises. If you or someone you know becomes a victim of such fraud, report the incident immediately to local law enforcement and the cybercrime helpline.
Stay alert. Stay safe. Don't let fraudsters steal your hard-earned money.
