In a stark reminder of the perils of digital deception, three residents of Pune were collectively cheated of a staggering Rs 12.05 lakh in separate online task fraud cases reported between June and December of 2025. The victims, lured by promises of easy money for completing simple online assignments, ended up paying huge sums to cybercriminals under the pretext of 'prepaid tasks'. Formal complaints in all three incidents were registered with different police stations across the city on Thursday.
How the Online Task Fraud Unfolded
The modus operandi followed a similar, sinister pattern in each case. The fraudsters initially contacted the victims and offered them money for completing minor online tasks. To build trust, they even transferred small amounts to the victims' bank accounts. Once the hook was set, the conmen introduced the concept of 'prepaid tasks' – demanding increasingly large sums of money upfront with the promise of exponentially higher returns.
Lohegaon Resident Loses Rs 5.34 Lakh
A 31-year-old man from Lohegaon was offered money for completing meager tasks online. The cybercrooks then gradually started asking for funds for these 'prepaid tasks' to earn more. Believing the false promises, the resident transferred a total of Rs 5.34 lakh to the fraudsters in December 2025. He subsequently filed a complaint with the Lohegaon police.
Dattawadi Businessman Cheated of Rs 4.83 Lakh
In a parallel case, a 37-year-old fabrication businessman from Dattawadi fell prey to an identical scam in November 2025. The criminals enticed him with an offer of Rs 2,500 per day. They assigned him prepaid tasks and siphoned money into different bank accounts. The victim was shown a link or application falsely indicating he had earned a profit of Rs 10 lakh. However, when he attempted to withdraw his money, the fraudsters demanded more payments. Realising he had been duped, he stopped responding and approached the Parvati police.
Khadakwasla Employee Defrauded of Rs 3.88 Lakh
The earliest of the three reported cases dates back to June 2025. A 26-year-old private company employee from Khadakwasla was ensnared in an online task fraud where she was asked to give ratings to hotels. The scammers first transferred Rs 1,500 to her account to gain her confidence. Gradually, they took Rs 3.88 lakh from her under the guise of prepaid tasks. The woman filed an online complaint, leading to a case being registered with the Nanded City police after preliminary investigations.
Police Action and Public Advisory
All three complaints have now been officially registered with the Nanded City, Lohegaon, and Parvati police stations. These cases highlight a growing trend of sophisticated online task frauds targeting individuals looking for quick income opportunities. Cybersecurity experts and police advise the public to be extremely wary of any scheme that promises high returns for simple online work and, crucially, asks for money upfront. Citizens are urged to verify the legitimacy of such offers and report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.
