New Delhi -The rise of online fraud has become a growing concern. Criminals are constantly evolving their tactics, targeting unsuspecting individuals with sophisticated schemes that appear legitimate at first glance. One such incident has come to light where a young man from Gora village, Ratibad, was duped by scammers who promised him an attractive job opportunity but ended up extorting lakhs of rupees. This case is a stark reminder of the pervasive threat of online job scams that continue to wreak havoc on the lives of innocent victims.
How the Job Scam Unfolded
The victim, Arvind Kumar Patel, lodged a complaint in August after realizing that he had fallen prey to fraudsters who had lured him through a fake job opportunity. It all began on August 6, when Arvind came across a link on Instagram advertising a job offer. Clicking on the link led him into a conversation via Telegram, a popular messaging app. Here, the scammers convinced him to download the app and promised he could earn anywhere from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 per day by completing simple tasks.
Enticement of Easy Money
To make their scam seem credible, the fraudsters conducted a series of interviews with Arvind. Afterward, they added him to a group on Telegram, where he was instructed to comment on various posts. For each comment, they promised a payout of ₹10. True to their word, the scammers initially paid Arvind ₹123 for completing his first task, giving him a false sense of legitimacy.
However, the situation quickly escalated. As Arvind was moved to a different group, the payout per comment increased to ₹30, and the tasks became more time-consuming, involving video content. Upon completing these tasks, Arvind was connected with an individual operating under the alias Shraddha Dineshbhai, who instructed him to send screenshots of his completed assignments. The fraudulent company then asked him to deposit ₹1,000 into an account to activate a new task and promised a 30% commission in return. They fulfilled this promise by transferring ₹1,300 into his account.
Escalating Demands and False Promises
With every successful task completed, the demands increased. The scammers lured Arvind into depositing ₹3,000 for his next target, and he was paid a commission of ₹3,900 upon its completion. Each payment reassured Arvind that the opportunity was genuine. But when the time came for the next task, the fraudsters asked him to deposit ₹11,889, along with additional payments, including a significant ₹31,889 under the guise of guaranteeing task completion.
When Arvind completed the final task, he was notified that his account had been frozen, and the scammers demanded an additional ₹50,000 to unfreeze it. Believing this was the final hurdle, Arvind complied. However, after depositing the amount, the scammers returned with the same excuse, asking for two more installments of ₹50,000 each to fix his account.
Credit Score Manipulation
The story didn’t end there. The fraudsters, not satisfied with the money already extorted, created yet another false narrative. They claimed that Arvind’s credit score had deteriorated and needed urgent restoration. To “correct” this, they demanded another hefty payment of ₹1 lakh. By this point, Arvind had already lost lakhs to the criminals.
Realization and Complaint to the Authorities
It wasn’t until Arvind had made these payments that he finally realized the depth of the scam. What initially seemed like a legitimate job opportunity had turned into a sophisticated scheme to drain his savings. Arvind promptly approached the police, and after two months of investigation, the Crime Branch registered a case against the unknown fraudsters.
The Crime Branch Investigation
The case, now under the jurisdiction of the Crime Branch, is currently under thorough investigation. Authorities are diligently tracing the bank accounts and mobile numbers associated with the fraudulent transactions. Every detail is being examined to bring the culprits to justice. The police are also working to gather more information about the individuals behind the Telegram chats and the bank accounts where Arvind’s money was deposited.
In cases like this, recovering the funds is often a challenging process, as online scammers are known for utilizing untraceable or international accounts to make it difficult for authorities to track them down. Nevertheless, the Crime Branch is committed to unearthing the identities of these criminals and ensuring that they are held accountable for their actions.
Rising Threat of Online Job Scams
This incident highlights the alarming increase in online job scams across India. Scammers are now leveraging social media platforms like Instagram, messaging apps such as Telegram, and fraudulent job portals to target young, tech-savvy individuals who are actively seeking employment.
The promise of quick and easy money continues to lure many into these traps. With an increasing number of people searching for jobs online, criminals have ample opportunity to design convincing schemes that deceive even the most cautious individuals.
Key Warning Signs of a Job Scam
While the tactics used in this case may seem complex, there are several warning signs that job seekers should be aware of to avoid falling into such traps:
- Unsolicited Job Offers: Receiving a job offer through social media or messaging apps like Instagram or Telegram without having applied for the job is a red flag.
- No Official Communication: Legitimate companies typically communicate through official channels such as company emails, not through social media or instant messaging apps.
- Upfront Payments: Genuine employers do not ask job seekers to pay any fees or deposits. Be wary of any job offer that requires an advance payment.
- Unrealistic Earnings: Offers that promise extremely high earnings for minimal effort, such as completing simple tasks or posting comments, are often too good to be true.
Preventive Measures
To protect yourself from such scams, it’s essential to conduct thorough research before accepting any job offer. Always verify the legitimacy of the company by checking its website, reading reviews, and contacting the company directly. If the offer involves upfront payments or seems suspicious, it’s best to walk away.
Furthermore, using secure communication platforms and avoiding sharing personal or financial information with unknown individuals online can go a long way in preventing such incidents. Always be cautious and trust your instincts when something doesn’t feel right.
