A young entrepreneur from Gujarat's Junagadh district has become the latest victim of a sophisticated work-from-home scam, losing a substantial amount of Rs 5.77 lakh after being lured through WhatsApp messages promising lucrative online earnings.
How the WhatsApp Scam Unfolded
The victim, identified as 25-year-old Nikunj Bariya who operates a photocopy shop and resides in Gadu Sherbag village within Malia Hatina taluka, received an unsolicited WhatsApp message on June 9. The message came from a person identifying herself as Priya, who presented an attractive online work opportunity with promises of earning between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per day.
The Initial Hook and False Payments
According to police reports from the Cyber Crime police station at Junagadh Range, the scam operation began with what appeared to be legitimate transactions. On June 18, the person claiming to be Priya sent Bariya a link that directed him to a login form. After completing his first task through this platform, Bariya received Rs 1,238 credited directly to his bank account, creating an illusion of genuine earnings.
The following day, on June 19, the scammers escalated their scheme by asking Bariya to deposit Rs 10,000. After this deposit, they credited Rs 15,064 to his account, describing the additional Rs 5,064 as a "bonus" payment. These early payouts served as effective psychological manipulation, building trust and encouraging further financial commitment.
The Financial Drain and Realization
Encouraged by these initial payments that seemed to validate the opportunity, Bariya continued transferring money to the operation over the next several days. Between June 19 and June 22, he made a total of 16 UPI transactions to various bank accounts, amounting to the staggering sum of Rs 5.77 lakh.
Police investigations reveal that throughout this period, the accused consistently demanded additional deposits for what they described as "additional tasks." It was only after substantial financial loss that Bariya recognized the fraudulent nature of the operation and took action to report the incident.
Reporting the Cyber Crime
Upon realizing he had been systematically cheated, Bariya contacted authorities through the dedicated 1930 cybercrime helpline. He subsequently filed a formal complaint at the Cyber Crime police station under Junagadh Range jurisdiction, providing detailed documentation of the WhatsApp communications, UPI transactions, and bank account details involved in the scam.
This case highlights the growing sophistication of online financial frauds targeting individuals seeking supplementary income through work-from-home opportunities. Cyber crime authorities are investigating the multiple bank accounts used in the transactions and working to trace the digital footprint of the perpetrators behind this elaborate scam.
