Three residents of Pune fell victim to an online task fraud scam, losing a total of Rs33.21 lakh to cyber crooks. Preliminary inquiries prompted the Pune cyber police to register FIRs for all three cases. In the first incident, a 31-year-old unemployed man from Wagholi lost Rs5.23 lakh between June 7 and 10, 2023, as he was desperate for income and accepted a part-time job offer to write reviews. The fraudsters convinced him to invest, leading to the transfer of the significant amount.
A similar scam unfolded with an assistant manager from Bibvewadi who was duped of Rs5.85 lakh between September 12 and 19 this year. The imposters, initially offering the victim a part-time job to rate and write online reviews, eventually coerced him into making investments for promised returns. The victim transferred over Rs5.85 lakh into multiple bank accounts. When the fraudsters demanded more money, the assistant manager refused, prompting the scammers to cut off communication.
In another case, a chartered accountant from Lohegaon fell prey to cyber crooks who deceived him out of Rs22.82 lakh between July 26 and August 7, 2023. Similar to the previous incidents, the CA received a message about a part-time job and was later coerced into investing money, transferring the substantial amount to various accounts.
These incidents highlight the growing threat of online fraud and the vulnerability of individuals searching for employment opportunities or extra income. It serves as a reminder to exercise caution and skepticism when encountering such job offers online. The victims have forwarded their complaints to the police, who are actively investigating the cases in order to bring the fraudsters to justice.
To prevent falling victim to similar scams, it is advised to thoroughly research and verify the legitimacy of any job offers before making any financial commitments. Moreover, it is essential to exercise caution while sharing personal and financial information online, particularly on social networking platforms. By staying vigilant and adopting secure online practices, individuals can better protect themselves from falling prey to cyber frauds.
