Hyderabad housewife loses Rs 4.5 lakh in chore scam: Here’s what happened

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A housewife from Hyderabad lost nearly Rs 4.5 lakh to fraudsters who lured her into a fake online investment scheme.

It all started when the woman received a WhatsApp message from scammers claiming to offer her a simple job.

They promised to pay her for promoting videos and photos by liking, rating and sharing them.

In today’s digital world, it’s easy to be fooled by promises of quick and easy money. A recent incident in Hyderabad shows how convincing scammers can be. A 40-year-old housewife lost nearly Rs 4.5 lakh to fraudsters who lured her into a fake online investment scheme. Keep reading to find out how the scam unfolded and how you can avoid falling victim to similar traps.

It all started when the woman received a WhatsApp message from scammers claiming to offer her a simple job. They promised to pay her for promoting videos and photos by liking, rating and sharing them. The task seemed harmless enough, and the upfront payment she received after completing a few tasks made her believe the project was legitimate.

Also read: Credit card scam: how a gang used fake calls to steal from more than 50 users

The scammers first asked her to give a 5-star rating and after completing the task, she was paid Rs 120. Encouraged by this, she completed another task and received Rs 300. This small success gave her made it seem like the work was real, and she eagerly asked how she could start working more. The scammers then sent her a link via WhatsApp to create an account.

Once she joined the program, the fraudsters told her she needed to pay Rs 1,000 to start the next phase, assuring her she would get Rs 1,300 in return. The payment was made and true to their word, the scammers refunded the amount. This continued with other tasks, and with each completed task, they convinced her to invest larger amounts of money, promising greater returns.

However, after she paid a total of Rs 4,49,740, the scammers stopped returning the money. Despite their repeated promises of reimbursement and benefits, they demanded even more money, which the victim refused to pay. She filed a complaint with the police, urging them to take action against the fraudsters.

Also Read: Hyderabad Family Loses Rs 5.5 Cr After 17 Days Of Digital Arrest: How To Protect Yourself From Such Scams

How to avoid such scams

• Beware of unknown messages: If you receive an offer out of the blue, especially one promising easy money, think twice before committing.
• Don’t trust unknown links: Always use caution when clicking on links sent via messages or social media.
• Avoid upfront payments: Real jobs or investments won’t require you to pay upfront for a task or opportunity.
• Do your research before investing: Always check the legitimacy of any project by searching for reviews or reports online.
• Report suspicious activities: If something goes wrong, report it immediately to the relevant authorities or platforms.

Ayushi Jain

Technical news editor by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for technology and gaming to bring you the latest from both worlds. View full profile