Hyderabad: Ex-defence employee, homemaker, ex-IT employee lose Rs 3.26 Cr in fake job offer, bogus investment deal

Hyderabad: Cyber criminals have cheated three victims of Rs 3.26 crore by luring them with fake online job offers and fraudulent stock market investment schemes.

The cases were reported from different parts of the city and are being investigated by the Cyberabad Cybercrime Police.

Retired defence employee loses ₹91.03 lakh in fake online job scam

In the first case, cyber fraudsters duped a retired defence department employee residing in Miyapur of Rs 91.03 lakh under the guise of a work-from-home opportunity.

The victim was first contacted on Telegram and was promised easy earnings by spending just 5–10 minutes a day. To gain his trust, the fraudsters initially credited small commissions, including Rs 8,000 for a task involving online reviews of villas and apartments linked to a so-called real estate project.

Encouraged by these payments, the victim transferred increasing amounts over time. When he attempted to withdraw the money, the fraudsters sent fake notices in the name of the finance department, claiming withdrawal limits and demanding a 50% “security deposit.”

Between the first and second weeks of December and up to January 12, the victim transferred Rs 91.03 lakh, but was allowed to withdraw only Rs 47,000. He later discovered that the app used was fake and filed a complaint.

Homemaker cheated of Rs 1.09 crore through fake stock market group

In another incident, a homemaker from Dundigal was added to a WhatsApp group claiming to be a “VIP exclusive stock club.” Group members regularly posted screenshots of alleged profits and assured members of guaranteed gains through stock market investments.

After seeing initial profits on small investments of Rs 20,000 and Rs 49,000, the victim gradually transferred larger sums. Between December and the second week of January, she transferred Rs 1.09 crore. When she was denied access to withdraw her profits, she realised she had been cheated and approached the police.

Former IT employee duped of Rs 1.26 crore in Trading Scam

In the third case, a former IT employee from Madinaguda lost Rs 1.26 crore after clicking on a Facebook advertisement related to trading skills. The link redirected him to a WhatsApp group where members posed as trading experts and convinced him to invest in shares as per their guidance.

After receiving profits on initial investments, the victim was convinced of the scheme’s authenticity and transferred money in phases. Eventually, when returns stopped and communication ceased, he realised it was a scam and lodged a complaint.

Police Advisory

Cybercrime police have once again warned the public to be cautious of unsolicited online job offers, investment tips, and social media advertisements promising quick and guaranteed returns. They advised citizens to verify platforms thoroughly and report suspicious activity immediately to avoid financial losses.