Pune Woman Defrauded of Rs 20 Lakh in Elaborate Online Task Scam
A 52-year-old resident of Kothrud in Pune has become the latest victim of a sophisticated online task fraud, losing a staggering sum of Rs 20 lakh. The incident, which occurred in December last year, has prompted a thorough investigation by the Pune cyber police, culminating in the registration of a formal case at the Alankar police station this Wednesday.
How the Fraudulent Scheme Unfolded
The woman was initially contacted on December 2 through a popular mobile messaging application. The fraudsters, posing as representatives of the online booking and travel industry, offered her a lucrative part-time work opportunity. They promised commissions ranging from Rs 800 to Rs 1,400 for tasks that required approximately four hours of daily effort.
The job description involved artificially boosting sales of underrated tickets by posting fabricated five-star ratings online. For each completed task, the woman was assured a commission, making the offer appear legitimate and financially rewarding.
The Deceptive Process and Initial Gains
To begin, the woman was sent a registration link and instructed to pay a certain amount to create and activate a work ID. After completing her initial assignments, she received a commission of Rs 1,046, which likely bolstered her trust in the scheme. Encouraged by this success, she continued with more tasks and even earned a substantial commission of Rs 60,000 at one point.
This pattern of receiving payments initially is a classic tactic used by scammers to build credibility and lure victims into investing larger sums.
The Massive Financial Loss
Emboldened by her early earnings, the woman started transferring increasingly larger amounts to the bank accounts provided by the fraudsters, hoping to maximize her commissions. In total, she transferred Rs 20 lakh to various bank accounts across India.
The situation took a dire turn when she attempted to withdraw Rs 17 lakh of her accumulated earnings. At this point, the scammers demanded additional transfers, claiming more money was needed to process the withdrawal. It was only then that the woman realized she had been duped and promptly approached the authorities.
Police Investigation and Multi-State Trail
Following her complaint, the Pune cyber police conducted preliminary investigations and registered a case. An officer from the Alankar police station revealed that the investigation has traced the fraudulent money transfers to bank accounts located in several states:
- Deoria and Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh
- Barmer in Rajasthan
- Agartala in Tripura
- Mumbai in Maharashtra
The police have now sought detailed information about these bank accounts to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. This multi-state dimension complicates the investigation but highlights the organized nature of such cyber crimes.
Growing Threat of Online Task Frauds
This case underscores the escalating threat of online task frauds in India, where scammers exploit the growing demand for remote work opportunities. Citizens are advised to exercise extreme caution when approached with unsolicited job offers that require upfront payments or promise unusually high commissions for minimal work.
The Pune police continue their investigation, urging the public to report any suspicious online activities immediately to prevent further financial losses.
