Mumbai: Chembur resident duped of ₹7.8 lakh in online task scam.
Soon after, the fraudsters assigned him “investment tasks,” instructing him to deposit money with the promise of earning commissions.
Chembur Man Loses ₹7.8 Lakh After Falling for “Easy Task” Job on WhatsApp — A Costly Lesson in Trust
Mumbai: What started as a harmless side-income opportunity turned into a nightmare for a Chembur resident who ended up losing a staggering ₹7.8 lakh to an online task scam.
The victim, who works at a private credit company, received a WhatsApp message on September 7 from an unknown number. The sender claimed to offer a simple part-time job — “Earn ₹40 just for reviewing restaurants!” It sounded easy and genuine. After all, who wouldn’t want to make quick money in their free time?
The Trap Begins
The victim was soon asked to join a Telegram group called “Google Mission India 190.” The group appeared professional, filled with people supposedly sharing their earnings and thanking the “team” for their payouts.
His first few tasks were simple — post restaurant reviews and share screenshots. To his surprise, ₹120 and ₹200 were instantly credited to his account. This small gesture sealed his trust.
“If they’re paying for small tasks, maybe it’s real,” he thought.
From ₹40 Reviews to Lakhs in “Investment Tasks”
After gaining his confidence, the scammers changed gears.
They introduced “investment tasks”, saying that depositing a certain amount would unlock much higher commissions. The victim, now fully convinced, started transferring money — one payment after another.
Each time he asked for his returns, he was told:
“Just complete one last task and your full balance will be released.”
That “one last task” kept repeating — until reality struck. His so-called “earnings” never arrived.
By then, ₹7.8 lakh had already vanished.
A Painful Realization
What felt like a simple side hustle turned into a devastating financial blow. The victim finally approached the cyber police, who confirmed that such task-based scams are spreading rapidly across India, especially through WhatsApp and Telegram.
If You Receive Messages Like These — Don’t Fall for Them
🚫 “Earn ₹30 for a like!”
🚫 “₹200 per review — no experience needed!”
🚫 “Deposit ₹1,000 now, get ₹5,000 in return!”
These are not jobs. They’re traps.
A Reminder for All
In difficult times, online scams often disguise themselves as easy opportunities. This incident is a harsh reminder that no real job asks you to pay first to earn later.
Stay alert. Ask questions. Verify everything.
Because sometimes, that “easy money” comes at the biggest price.
