Hyderabad: How scammers cheated youth of Rs 10.19L in fake job deal

Hyderabad: A 26-year-old unemployed youth from Hyderabad lost Rs 10.19 lakh after falling victim to a fraudulent online part-time job scheme, police said.

On a messaging app and a fake website, scammers posed as a legitimate corporate platform and lured the victim with the promise of high earnings for minimal daily work.

According to police, the victim received a message offering a part-time job with a monthly income of Rs 50,000 for just two to three hours of work per day. He was directed to contact a person on another messaging platform and was asked to register on a counterfeit website.

To gain his trust, the scammers credited Rs 10,000 to his account, allowing him to withdraw Rs 7,500. Encouraged by the initial payout, the victim continued completing assigned tasks, which included promoting fake real estate listings, while repeatedly depositing money as instructed by the fraudsters.

Each payment was followed by screenshots showing fabricated profits, further convincing the man of the platform’s legitimacy. However, when he attempted to withdraw what he believed to be Rs 72 lakh in earnings, he was asked to pay a series of additional charges. Upon realizing he had been conned, the victim approached the police.

A case has been registered, and the total amount lost has been recorded as Rs 10,19,781. The investigation is currently ongoing, the police said.

Cybercrime authorities have issued a warning about the increasing number of online scams involving part-time job offers, click-and-earn programs, and task-based earning platforms that are being circulated through social media and messaging apps.

The public is also advised to remain cautious and to verify any such offers independently. Victims are urged to report incidents by calling 1930 or visiting cybercrime.gov.in. For urgent assistance, they can also reach out via call or WhatsApp at 8712665171.