Cyber Crime: Ganesh says, "In the greed for free things, I lost my hard-earned money. Now, I don't fall for such traps and advise others to stay cautious."
The availability of smartphones and the internet has brought entertainment right into our pockets. Theaters are no longer necessary as every new movie, web series, and live cricket link is available online, often at no cost. Previously, torrents were the primary source, but as restrictions increased, Telegram took its place. Any newly released movie in HD quality was available in moments. However, this convenience led me into a trap I never anticipated. This is the story of Ganesh Kushwaha, published in the March issue of Outlook Hindi Magazine.
Ganesh recounts, "A few months ago, I found a Telegram group named 'Hollywood & Bollywood Free Movies.' Every new release was available for free in excellent quality. The group's admin regularly shared new links. I was thrilled by this free service. Then, one day, an interesting post appeared: 'Invest 1,000 and earn 5,000 in 24 hours! No hard work needed!' The post contained screenshots of people thanking the admin and assuring that it was '100% guaranteed, no fraud.'
Seeing this offer, I hesitated, but since it was the same group providing free movies, I didn't see any danger. I clicked the provided link, which led me to another Telegram channel where many people were discussing ways to make money. Soon, a woman messaged me: 'We invest in crypto and stock trading. Invest 1,000 now and get 5,000 in 24 hours!'
Initially, I was skeptical, but the messages from other group members built my trust. I transferred 1,000 rupees, and the next day, to my surprise, 5,000 rupees were credited to my account. This convinced me that I had found the right opportunity. Then, the woman made another offer: 'Invest 5,000 and get 25,000.'
Greed took over, and I invested 5,000 rupees. This time, neither the promised 25,000 rupees arrived nor any profit. Instead, I received a message: 'Sir, your funds are in security hold. To release them, you need to deposit an additional 20,000 rupees.' I became slightly concerned, but the woman reassured me: 'Don’t worry, we sent you money before. This is the final payment, and after this, your full amount will be refunded.'
I fell for their words and somehow arranged 20,000 rupees. But soon after, I received another message: 'Now, deposit 50,000 rupees to withdraw your previous funds.'
That was when I realized I had been scammed. I pleaded with them, but no response came. Within minutes, the Telegram group was deleted, the woman blocked me, and I lost 26,000 rupees forever. When I told my friends, they blamed me: 'How could you be so naive?' But the truth is, even educated individuals can fall into such traps. Now, every time I open Telegram, I get angry at myself. The greed for free things cost me my hard-earned money. Now, I avoid such traps and warn others: 'Free is not always beneficial; sometimes, it turns out to be the most expensive mistake.'
Also Read: Quit an 8 Lakh Job, Then Faced Lockdown; Started Business with 17,000, Now Has a Multi-Crore Turnover
Disclaimer: Prabhat Khabar does not provide any recommendations regarding stock market investments. We publish market analyses based on expert insights and brokerage firms. Please consult certified professionals before making financial decisions.
