Charkhi-Dadri, Haryana: A female bank clerk became the victim of cyber fraud, losing ₹82,000 to scammers who lured her with a fake work-from-home offer. The incident came to light after the victim, Sonia, lodged a complaint at the Baundkalan police station. The police have registered a case against unidentified fraudsters and initiated an investigation.
The Incident
Sonia, a clerk at Sarva Haryana Gramin Bank in Ranila village, narrated the details of the scam in her complaint. On November 30, 2024, while browsing Instagram, she came across a video promoting a work-from-home opportunity. The video included a Telegram link for further communication. Intrigued by the offer, Sonia clicked the link and joined the group.
She was informed that the job involved taking screenshots of videos and sending them. The scammers showed her a system where she could supposedly earn money for completing tasks. Initially, everything seemed legitimate as the earnings were displayed in her account on the platform.
The Fraudulent Transactions
On December 1, 2024, Sonia was asked to make deposits to “unlock” higher earnings. Trusting the process, she transferred ₹3,000, ₹15,000, and ₹13,000 to the scammers’ account. The next day, she sent additional amounts of ₹22,000, ₹3,000, and ₹20,000, totaling ₹82,000 over ten transactions.
When Sonia attempted to withdraw her “earnings,” she was told that her target was incomplete and was asked to deposit more money. Realizing the scam, she immediately stopped further transactions and approached the police for help.
Police Action
The Baundkalan police have registered a case against unknown individuals under cybercrime laws. Investigators are tracing the accounts where the money was transferred and analyzing digital footprints to identify the culprits.
Awareness and Precaution
This incident highlights the growing menace of cyber fraud and the need for public awareness. Authorities have urged citizens to verify the authenticity of online job offers and avoid sharing personal or financial details with unknown sources.
The police have assured Sonia of their efforts to recover the lost money and take strict action against the fraudsters.
