Part-time job scam: KPHB colony resident loses Rs 32.8 lakh to crypto scammers

Hyderabad: A woman from KPHB Colony was duped of Rs 32.8 lakh by cyber scammers who posed as representatives of a travel agency and lured her with part-time job offers and fake cryptocurrency investments on WhatsApp and Telegram.

According to her complaint, the fraud began in August 2024 when she received a WhatsApp message from a woman identifying herself as Amrutha. The message claimed she could earn Rs 600 to Rs 1,000 per day by posting ratings and reviews of restaurants online.

Victim was added to Telegram group

She was then added to a Telegram group named ‘VIP Task Group 109 Senior Channel’, where she was encouraged to join a VIP commission program promising higher returns. The victim was later guided by anonymous users, referred to as ‘teachers’, who directed her to use a fake mobile application to buy and sell bitcoin.

Initially, the woman received small payments, which built her trust. However, she was soon made to transfer large sums of money under various pretexts such as investment, fixing task errors and unlocking withdrawals.

“For the past several weeks, I made several payments, including Rs 1.82 lakh and Rs 5.73 lakh for task corrections. When my withdrawals were blocked, I paid another Rs 9.18 lakh. Later, they claimed my credit score was low and manipulated me into transferring an additional Rs 7 lakh,” she stated in her complaint.

Realising she had been scammed, the woman approached cybercrime police, who have launched an investigation. Authorities have once again urged citizens to stay vigilant against online part-time job offers and crypto investment schemes shared through unverified platforms.