HYDERABAD— What started as a seemingly harmless part-time job opportunity promising modest daily earnings quickly spiralled into a harrowing financial nightmare for a Hyderabad woman. A resident of KPHB Colony was conned out of ₹32.8 lakh by cybercriminals posing as representatives of a travel agency and crypto investment platform operating through popular messaging apps WhatsApp and Telegram.
The elaborate scam, which began in August 2024, is the latest in a growing number of fraud cases where scammers exploit public interest in online work and cryptocurrency to manipulate and drain victims of their savings.
A Tempting Offer: “Earn ₹600 to ₹1,000 a Day”
The woman, whose name has been withheld for privacy, received a WhatsApp message from someone identifying herself as Amrutha. The message offered part-time work that involved posting ratings and reviews for restaurants online, a task that seemed simple and was said to pay between ₹600 and ₹1,000 per day.
Believing it to be a legitimate side hustle, the woman responded and was soon added to a Telegram group called ‘VIP Task Group 109 Senior Channel,’ where the scam deepened.
From Trust-Building to Manipulation
Inside the Telegram group, the woman was introduced to what was marketed as a “VIP commission programme” that promised higher earnings through digital tasks. Posing as helpful mentors, anonymous group members referred to as “teachers” began guiding her through a series of crypto-related assignments.
She was instructed to use a fraudulent mobile application to buy and sell bitcoin, all while being assured of guaranteed returns. To build her confidence, the scammers initially sent small payouts for completed tasks, reinforcing the illusion that the platform was legitimate.
As trust grew, the demands escalated. The woman was persuaded to transfer increasingly large sums of money under various pretexts, including correcting task errors, unlocking blocked withdrawals, and even improving a so-called “credit score” on the platform.
A Trail of Transactions and False Promises
“In the beginning, it all seemed real. I was receiving money after doing simple tasks,” the victim recalled in her complaint. “But then they kept creating problems and asking for more money to fix them.”
She detailed how she made payments of ₹1.82 lakh and ₹5.73 lakh to resolve task-related issues. When her withdrawal requests were denied, she transferred an additional ₹9.18 lakh under the promise of unlocking her earnings. The most shocking blow came when the scammers claimed her “credit score” was low and demanded another ₹7 lakh to reactivate her account.
Over the following weeks, she continued to send money in the hope of retrieving her initial investment until she finally realised she had been scammed.
Cybercrime Police Launch Investigation
After recognising the fraud, the woman filed a complaint with Hyderabad’s cybercrime police, who have since launched an investigation into the scam.
Authorities believe the scam is part of a wider trend of cyber frauds that exploit India’s growing interest in cryptocurrency and remote work opportunities. The use of messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, which offer anonymity and are harder to regulate, has made it easier for fraudsters to reach and exploit unsuspecting victims.
Police Issue Renewed Warning on Online Job and Crypto Scams
This case is one of many that highlight the increasingly sophisticated tactics used by cybercriminals to defraud people in the digital economy. Police have reiterated their warning to the public, urging them to remain cautious of unsolicited messages offering high returns or work-from-home opportunities through unverified channels.
“Citizens should be extremely wary of job offers or investment schemes circulated via WhatsApp or Telegram,” said a cybercrime official. “Always verify the authenticity of any platform or offer before transferring funds.”
As authorities work to trace the culprits and potentially recover the stolen funds, the victim’s experience serves as a sobering reminder of the growing risks in India’s evolving digital landscape, where a promise of easy money can cost far more than imagined.
