A 27-year-old businessman in the electric pole industry has been defrauded of Rs 57.75 lakh in a part-time job scam. Attracted by the promise of easy money for minimal work, the man transferred large sums of money over a period of time before he realized he had been defrauded. Cyber ​​crime police have registered an FIR against 14 people under various sections of the IPC and IT Act for their involvement in the case.

The scam started on August 16, when the victim received a Telegram message from a woman named Anasuya. He introduced her to a part-time job that promised to earn Rs 4,650 for just three hours of online work every day.

After two days, another woman, Abhinaya, contacted them claiming to be associated with a company called ‘Mango Fashion’. He directed the businessman to register on the company’s platform, where a bonus of Rs 10,000 was credited to his digital wallet. As he continued completing tasks, his wallet balance increased, convincing him that the opportunity was legitimate.

Encouraged by the increasing wallet balance, Abhinay convinces the man to invest in Mango Fashion, with the promise of even higher returns. Over time, he transferred a total of Rs 58.06 lakh to 11 different bank accounts provided by the scammers. His digital wallet showed Rs 76 lakh including profits, but when he tried to withdraw the money, he was able to withdraw only Rs 30,858 in two small transactions.

When repeated attempts to withdraw large sums of money failed, he realized that he had been cheated. On August 29, he reached out to the cybercrime helpline and lodged a formal complaint, following which an investigation took place. Finally, on December 24, the police registered an FIR against 14 people involved in the fraud.

The case highlights the growing number of part-time job scams that target unsuspecting victims through messaging platforms. To avoid falling victim to such schemes, it is better to verify the validity of any job offers, especially if they come unsolicited. Real companies do not ask for money or investment upfront. Any request for payment should arouse suspicion. If you find yourself in a similar situation, it is important to report the matter to the authorities as soon as possible to prevent further financial loss.