Hyderabad: Kapra resident Yasarapu Ganesh Babu fell victim to a cyber fraud, which was disguised as a location review job offer, and lost about Rs 78 lakh, police said on Tuesday.
It started with a WhatsApp message from a person claiming to be named Amara, offering a part-time job reviewing locations on Google Maps, He provided a link to a Telegram group, and asked Babu to review locations, offering Rs 450 as profit for his initial reviews.
Later, they introduced him to a crypto trading platform, promising higher profits. Ganesh initially invested Rs 2,000 and received Rs 2,800. Engaging in conversations with Telegram handles @Jayaraman888, @Nisha1153 and @jason748, who promised higher returns with more investment, Ganesh transferred a total of Rs 77,88,701 in 35 transactions to different bank accounts and UPI IDs, as directed.
The scammers continued to demand more money under various pretexts. Eventually, Ganesh realised he had been cheated and filed a complaint.
Rachakonda cybercrime inspector B. Raju said: “Be wary of unsolicited messages, suspicious job offers and tempting investment opportunities that may lead to financial losses. Staying informed and practising online safety measures is crucial to avoid falling victim to these cybercrimes.”
