Lucknow Resident Duped of Nearly Rs 12 Lakh in Sophisticated Work-From-Home Cyber Racket
In a distressing case highlighting the growing sophistication of online fraud, a Lucknow resident has been allegedly defrauded of a staggering Rs 11,77,615 in an elaborate 'work-from-home' cyber racket. The victim, identified as Sharad Mishra from Rajajipuram, filed a formal police complaint after falling prey to a meticulously planned scam that began with seemingly innocent tasks and escalated into high-pressure cryptocurrency investments.
The Deceptive Beginning: WhatsApp Message and Initial Tasks
According to the detailed complaint, the ordeal commenced on January 6, when Mishra received an unsolicited WhatsApp message from an unknown number. The message offered a lucrative part-time job opportunity, promising easy earnings from the comfort of home. Initially, the tasks appeared straightforward and legitimate. Mishra was asked to perform simple activities, such as taking screenshots of products listed on the Amazon website. To build trust and credibility, the fraudsters made small payments for these initial assignments, effectively luring the victim into a false sense of security and financial gain.
Escalation to Telegram and Cryptocurrency Trap
The scammers then strategically moved the communication to the Telegram messaging platform, a common tactic to avoid detection. Here, Mishra was introduced to a handle named @Amazon Support78, which impersonated official Amazon support. Subsequently, another individual using the handle @verma96341 instructed him to "invest" money on a fraudulent website that was cleverly masked as a legitimate cryptocurrency trading platform. This marked the transition from simple tasks to a high-stakes financial trap.
Financial Drain: Multiple High-Value Transactions
Between January 7 and January 8, the victim was coerced into making multiple high-value transfers under the guise of investments. The complaint meticulously lists a series of transactions that drained his finances:
- A total of Rs 5,11,984 was transferred from his personal savings accounts to various UPI IDs provided by the scammers.
- An additional Rs 6,65,630 was transacted using multiple credit cards, further exacerbating his financial loss.
When Mishra attempted to withdraw his funds, realizing the precarious situation, the scammers immediately blocked his request. They demanded further "investments" as a precondition to release the previously transferred balance, employing classic pressure tactics to extract more money.
Threats and Official Complaint
The situation turned more sinister when Mishra refused to comply with additional payment demands. He alleged that the fraudsters threatened him over the phone, adding a layer of intimidation to the financial exploitation. Following this alarming realization that he had been duped, Mishra promptly reported the incident to the Cyber Helpline (1930) on January 8. Multiple complaint numbers were generated during the process, and a formal First Information Report (FIR) was lodged as Case 108/2026.
In his appeal to the authorities, the victim has urgently requested the deputy commissioner of police (crime) to expedite the recovery of his hard-earned money and ensure the swift arrest of the perpetrators. This case underscores the critical need for public awareness and robust cybercrime prevention measures in the digital age.
