Business consultant duped of Rs 11 lakh in task-based investment scam

Bhopal: Misrod police on Tuesday registered a fraud case against unidentified cyber criminals after a business consultant was allegedly duped of Rs 11.55 lakh in an online task-based investment scam.

According to police, complainant Shashank, a resident of a colony in Misrod, is a business consultant. Around six months ago, on January 7, he received a message from an unidentified person who claimed that he could earn substantial profits by working from home by completing online tasks on his mobile phone.

After Shashank expressed interest, he was added to a WhatsApp group where members were encouraged to invest money and complete assigned tasks in return for attractive returns. Initially, Shashank received a task of Rs 2000. When he completed it he received Rs 3000. The profit on his investment boosted his confidence in the scheme. He was then added to a Telegram channel.

Encouraged by the returns, he gradually increased his investment and eventually deposited a total of Rs 11.55 lakh in the next three days. However, when he later attempted to withdraw the invested amount and profit, the transaction failed.

The next day, Shashank discovered that the WhatsApp group had been deleted and the mobile numbers through which he had been contacted were switched off. Realising that he had been cheated, he filed a complaint through national cyber-crime helpline.

Following registration of e-Zero FIR the case was transferred to Misrod police. Police registered a case against unidentified accused and launched an investigation into the fraud.