A 42-year-old finance professional from Panvel fell victim to a deceptive ‘like and earn’ fraud scheme, resulting in a substantial loss of Rs4.57 lakh. The unsuspecting victim, working in a finance company, received a seemingly innocuous WhatsApp message from an unknown number a few days ago, offering him a lucrative part-time job opportunity.
The scam unfolded when the fraudster, posing as a potential employer, instructed the victim to like a series of YouTube videos and send screenshots as proof. Promising a reward of Rs50 for each completed task, the scammer enticed the victim to actively participate in the fraudulent scheme. Subsequently, three YouTube links were sent to the victim, who diligently liked the videos and shared the screenshots as instructed.
As the victim complied with the initial tasks, he was added to a Telegram group where similar assignments were being circulated. Earning money for each completed task, the victim continued his involvement in the hope of additional income. At one point, he successfully completed a task that promised a reward of Rs1,000, receiving Rs1,480 upon its completion.
The scam took a dark turn when the victim, engrossed in the illusion of easy earnings, ended up making online transactions totalling Rs4.57 lakh as instructed by the fraudsters. However, when the promised returns failed to materialize, the victim realized he had been duped and promptly approached the police to report the incident. The case was officially registered on Tuesday.
