In a distressing incident, a 33-year-old resident of Navi Mumbai fell prey to an “online task” scam, losing a staggering sum of more than Rs 43 lakh to fraudsters who exploited his desire for substantial returns.
The fraudsters, reaching out via WhatsApp, promised the victim, a Koparkhairane resident, substantial earnings through a part-time online task, as per police reports. Hoping to secure substantial returns, the victim ended up transferring Rs 43.45 lakh to various bank accounts, only to receive no compensation in return, as detailed in the First Information Report (FIR). Consequently, a case has been registered under Section 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the case. This “online task fraud” typically ensnares victims by initially involving them in simple tasks, such as liking videos, and making nominal payments to gain their trust. Subsequently, the victims are coerced into investing larger sums in anticipation of substantial returns.