A 27-year-old businessman from the electrical poles industry has been defrauded of Rs 57.75 lakh in a part-time job scam. Lured by promises of easy money for minimal work, the man ended up transferring a large sum of money over some time before realising he had been scammed. The cybercrime police have since filed an FIR against 14 people under various sections of the IPC and IT Act for their involvement in the case.
The scam began on August 16, when the victim received a Telegram message from a woman named Ansuya. She introduced him to a part-time job that promised earnings of Rs 4,650 for just three hours of online work each day.
After two days, another woman, Abhinaya, contacted him claiming to be associated with a company called 'Mango Fashion.' She guided the businessman 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.
Encouraged by the increasing wallet balance, the man was convinced by Abhinaya to invest in Mango Fashion, with promises of even greater returns. Over time, he transferred a total of Rs 58.06 lakh to 11 different bank accounts provided to him by the scammers. His digital wallet showed Rs 76 lakh, including profits, but when he attempted to withdraw the funds, he was only able to retrieve Rs 30,858 in two small transactions.
As repeated attempts to withdraw larger sums failed, he realised he had been duped. On August 29, he reached out to the cybercrime helpline and filed a formal complaint, which led to an investigation. Finally, on December 24, the police registered an FIR against 14 individuals connected to the fraud.
This case highlights the growing number of part-time job scams that target unsuspecting victims through messaging platforms. To avoid falling prey to such schemes, it is better to verify the legitimacy of any job offers, especially if they arrive unsolicited. Genuine companies do not ask for money or investments upfront. Any request for payments should raise suspicion. If you find yourself in a similar situation, it is important to report the matter to the authorities as quickly as possible to prevent further financial loss.
