A 57-year-old bookstore owner from Mangaluru fell victim to a fraudulent YouTube task-based scam, losing ₹56.7 lakh. The scam began when he received a WhatsApp message on October 10, offering easy money for liking and subscribing to YouTube videos. Initially, the victim received small payments of ₹123 and ₹492, luring him into the scheme.
Encouraged by the quick returns, he was directed to a Telegram group for more tasks. The scammers convinced him to deposit large sums in exchange for higher commissions. While he initially earned ₹52,000, the fraudsters later stopped returning his money. Realizing he had been tricked, the victim reported the case to the Cyber Economic and Narcotic police.
The case has been registered under the Information Technology Act and sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. This incident is part of a growing trend where scammers exploit social media platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram to deceive victims into losing money with false promises of easy profits.
As online fraud continues to rise, individuals must remain cautious and avoid schemes that promise large returns for minimal effort.
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