A young student from Udupi fell victim to online fraudsters after responding to a message promising earnings through task completion on WhatsApp. The incident unfolded when the student, studying in Manipal, received a message titled ‘Review Job & Prepaid Tasks’ on June 23. Intrigued, she completed a task and received a small sum of Rs 205 in her bank account immediately.
Subsequently, she was directed to join a Telegram group through a LinkedIn link provided by a stranger claiming association with ‘LinkedIn Idea 2024 Group 827th’. The fraudsters then persuaded her to invest Rs 4,600 in prepaid tasks, promising lucrative returns. To her surprise, Rs 5,850 was credited to her account shortly after.
Encouraged by these initial gains, the victim deposited a substantial amount of Rs 2.2 lakh into the fraudsters’ accounts in hopes of further profits. Unfortunately, she never heard from them again, leading to a significant financial loss.
The Manipal police station has registered a case regarding this fraudulent activity, highlighting the increasing risks of online scams and the importance of vigilance when engaging in online transactions.
This incident serves as a stark reminder for individuals to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of online offers before sharing personal information or making financial transactions.