A 22-year-old Kadaba resident, Ashwin Thomas, has fallen prey to a digital scam disguised as a part-time job opportunity, resulting in a financial loss of ₹1,23,000.

Ashwin, who had recently completed his BCA and was at home, received an Instagram message on May 4 promoting a part-time job. The link redirected him to WhatsApp, where he was told about an opportunity with “Meesho.” He was asked to register using a provided user ID and password, which led to a website displaying Meesho’s logo.

Later, he was instructed to click another link that redirected him to a Telegram account. The account holder claimed Ashwin would need to transfer money for placing online orders as part of the task. They assured him of full reimbursement along with a commission and even sent photos and testimonials of supposed past earners.

Trusting the claims, Ashwin began by sending ₹100 via UPI. Encouraged by positive feedback from the fraudsters, he made multiple payments in phases, eventually losing ₹1.23 lakh. When he tried to withdraw his “earnings,” he was shown a fake challan demanding personal income tax payment. This triggered doubt, and upon further checks, he realised he had been conned.

A complaint has been filed at the CEN Station. Authorities have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act, and Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the BNS Act.