A 51-year-old tax consultant from Pune has allegedly lost ₹2.72 crore after falling victim to an elaborate online task fraud that began with a seemingly harmless Google Review work-from-home opportunity.
The case has been registered at the city’s Cyber Crime Police Station after the victim filed a complaint. Preliminary investigation suggests that cyber criminals used fake online tasks, social engineering and fabricated reward systems to manipulate the complainant over nearly two months.
₹500 Reward Used to Build Trust
According to the complaint, the tax consultant, a resident of Bibwewadi in Pune, received a Telegram message from a profile posing as a woman.
The message promoted a work-from-home opportunity claiming that participants could earn ₹100 or more by completing simple online tasks.
After responding to the offer, the consultant was assigned tasks involving posting Google reviews for different businesses and locations. He was asked to submit screenshots after completing five review assignments.
Soon after, ₹500 was credited to his bank account as payment.
Investigators believe this initial payout was a planned move to make the scheme look genuine and build trust. Encouraged by the small payment, the victim continued participating.
Telegram Group Pulled Victim Deeper Into Scam
The victim was later added to a larger Telegram group where several people claimed to be coordinators and task managers.
He was told that higher earnings were available through premium tasks, but these required advance deposits. The fraudsters allegedly promised significantly higher returns after completion of these tasks.
To strengthen the illusion, small returns were reportedly provided on some initial payments. This reinforced the victim’s confidence and made him believe the platform was legitimate.
As his trust grew, the fraudsters began demanding larger amounts.
Fraudsters Demanded Money for Rewards and Withdrawals
Over time, the victim was told to make additional deposits to unlock rewards, complete higher-level assignments and withdraw accumulated earnings.
The fraudsters allegedly cited several reasons for repeated payments, including taxes, processing charges, account verification fees and system upgrade costs.
Believing that his money and profits were locked inside the platform, the consultant continued transferring funds to multiple bank accounts.
33 Transactions Total ₹2.72 Crore
By the time the victim realised he had been deceived, he had made 33 separate transactions amounting to ₹2.72 crore.
Investigators suspect that several recipient accounts were mule accounts used by cyber crime networks to quickly move and disperse stolen funds.
Mule accounts often make tracing and recovering stolen money more difficult because funds are transferred through multiple layers before reaching the final beneficiaries.
Experts Warn Against Task-Based Cyber Frauds
Cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said task-based online frauds have become one of the fastest-growing forms of cyber crime.
According to him, scammers often begin with small rewards to win trust. Once the victim is convinced, they use social engineering tactics to push larger investments.
Victims may continue transferring money because they believe they are close to recovering earlier payments or unlocking larger profits. This psychological pressure often leads to even bigger losses.
Online Job Offers Requiring Deposits Are Red Flags
Cyber security experts warn that unsolicited job offers, review-based earning schemes and guaranteed-return programs shared through Telegram, WhatsApp or social media should be treated with extreme caution.
Genuine employers do not usually require workers to deposit money to earn commissions, unlock tasks or withdraw payments.
People should verify companies independently, avoid clicking suspicious links and never transfer money to unknown individuals or platforms promising quick profits.
Investigation Tracks Bank Accounts and Digital Trails
Authorities are now examining bank accounts, digital transaction trails and online profiles linked to the fraud.
Police are also expected to trace mule accounts and identify people who helped move the stolen money.
Victims of cyber fraud are advised to report incidents immediately through the national cyber crime helpline 1930 or the official cyber crime reporting portal. Quick reporting can increase the chances of freezing fraudulent transactions before funds are withdrawn.
Why Clean Financial Records Matter
Task scams often involve multiple transfers, fake platforms, mule accounts and misleading payment trails. In such cases, accurate transaction records can help victims, businesses and investigators understand the money flow faster.
For businesses, organised accounts and regular reconciliation are essential to identify suspicious transactions early. Professional bookkeeping services in india can help companies maintain clean financial records, track payments and stay prepared for compliance or fraud-related reviews.
Shunyatax Global Insight
At Shunyatax Global, we believe financial awareness and digital caution are essential in today’s online economy. Easy-money offers, paid review schemes and task-based earning platforms can quickly turn into high-value frauds if users ignore warning signs.
For more updates on cybercrime, taxation, compliance, business finance and digital safety, visit Shunyatax.in and stay connected with Shunyatax Global.