Bengaluru Homemaker Falls Victim to Fake Earnings App, Loses ₹3.13 Lakh

In an unusual incident, a 39-year-old homemaker from Banashankari, identified as Kamala S (name changed), along with two of her friends, lost ₹3.13 lakh after being duped by a fraudulent app promising easy earnings through trading groceries and FMCG products. Kamala came across an advertisement on Instagram and downloaded the ‘COSTA’ app on December 11, 2024, which directed her to the website costat.site, registered in August 2024.

The app offered various investment plans, ranging from groceries to packaged goods, with assurances of daily returns. These returns were based on purchasing specific packages of fruits, vegetables, and juices, and the app also promoted bonuses for inviting others, similar to the tactics used in Ponzi schemes.

Kamala opted for the FMCG plan, paying ₹88,000 for a package that claimed she would receive ₹1,999 daily. However, the earnings displayed on the app were false, created to deceive users into making further purchases. Between December 12, 2024, and January 11, 2025, Kamala continued investing, transferring ₹3,13,821 across her own and her friends’ bank accounts.

The fraud was exposed when Kamala realized she could not withdraw her “earnings” after being repeatedly asked to buy additional packages. She filed a complaint on February 2, 2025, after recognizing the scam.

A senior police official cautioned the public about such fraudulent apps, often shared on social media, and targeting vulnerable individuals, especially homemakers.

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