Hyderabad woman loses Rs 4.50 lakhs in ‘click and rate’ scam

Hyderabad: A 40-year-old housewife from Hyderabad was cheated off almost Rs 4.50 lakhs by unidentified persons who promised to pay her for promoting videos and photos by liking, rating and sharing them.

According to the police, the woman received a WhatsApp message from scammers promoting a trade marketing investment scheme. They claimed the job involved promoting videos and photos by liking, rating, and sharing them.

Initially, the scammers assigned the victim a task to give a 5-star rating. After completing the first task, the victim received a payment of Rs 120. Upon completing the second task, she was paid Rs 300. This led the victim to believe the scheme was genuine. She inquired about starting the work, and the scammers sent her a link (https://t.me/+0E6-RobciMo2MzZh) via WhatsApp to create an account.

After joining, the scammers instructed the victim to pay Rs 1,000, assuring her that she would receive Rs 1,300 in return. As promised, the refund was made. Subsequently, the victim was given another task and continued following the instructions. Over time, the scammers convinced the victim to invest increasingly larger amounts, promising significant returns. However, after collecting a total of Rs 4,49,740, the scammers stopped returning her money. They continued to promise a refund, along with profits but demanded an additional payment, which the victim did not receive either. The victim has filed a complaint and requests necessary action be taken against the scammers.

Public advisory

Be cautious of part-time jobs, investment frauds and online job fake offers like work from home, Google capture and task rating, click and rate and earn etc. Verify properly before accepting such offers and sharing your financial or personal details. Scammers approach victims through various social media platforms i.e. Telegram, WhatsApp, X, Instagram, and Facebook by advertising fake investment apps/websites. Such schemes are fraudulent and do not have SEBI’s endorsement. Fraudsters are using simple tactics to lure gullible investors with promises of high returns and fake profit screenshots. After, they will credit a small amount in the victim's account to gain the victim's confidence. Never believe the promises of huge returns. If anyone becomes a victim of cybercrime, immediately dial 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in. In case of any emergency in cyberfraud please call or WhatsApp 8712665171.