Bhopal: The Misrod police have registered a fraud case against unidentified cyber criminals after a business consultant was allegedly duped of Rs 11.55 lakh in an online task-based investment scam.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to police, the complainant, Shashank, a resident of a colony in Misrod, works as a business consultant. Around six months ago, on January 7, he received a message from an unidentified person who claimed that he could earn substantial profits by working from home and completing online tasks on his mobile phone.
After Shashank expressed interest, he was added to a WhatsApp group where members were encouraged to invest money and complete assigned tasks in return for attractive returns. Initially, Shashank received a task worth Rs 2,000. When he completed it, he received Rs 3,000. The profit on his investment boosted his confidence in the scheme. He was then added to a Telegram channel.
Increasing Investments and the Fallout
Encouraged by the returns, he gradually increased his investment and eventually deposited a total of Rs 11.55 lakh over the next three days. However, when he later attempted to withdraw the invested amount and profit, the transaction failed. The next day, Shashank discovered that the WhatsApp group had been deleted and the mobile numbers through which he had been contacted were switched off.
Realising that he had been cheated, he filed a complaint through the national cyber-crime helpline. Following the registration of an e-Zero FIR, the case was transferred to the Misrod police. The police have registered a case against unidentified accused and launched an investigation into the fraud.
