My Story: How I Got Scammed#
I was lured into an online scam where fraudsters offered payment for completing small tasks. I got to know about this through a Telegram channel. Initially, I was given 20 simple tasks, and after completing them, I was asked to provide bank account details for payment. The fraudsters paid small amounts to build trust. Later, they introduced trading tasks involving crude oil or diesel, which were designed to be complex and prone to errors. When I made a mistake, the fraudsters claimed their account was frozen and demanded large sums (₹1.5 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh) to “unfreeze” it. After paying, I was given even more difficult tasks, leading to another “mistake” and another demand for payment. This cycle continued, resulting in significant financial losses of more than ₹2,50,000.
How the Fraud Happened:
- Initial Trust Building: The fraudsters assigned simple tasks and paid small amounts to gain the victim’s trust.
- Introduction of Trading Tasks: They introduced complex trading tasks, knowing the victim would likely make mistakes.
- Account Freezing Scam: When mistakes occurred, they claimed the victim’s account was frozen and demanded large payments to “unfreeze” it.
- Cycle of Exploitation: After unfreezing, they assigned even more difficult tasks, ensuring the victim would make another mistake and demand more money.
- Financial Loss: The victim ended up paying significant amounts, believing they could recover their funds, but the fraudsters continued to exploit them.
Warning Signs: When to Exercise Caution#
🔴 Telegram/WhatsApp job offers: Legitimate companies don’t recruit or pay through random chat groups. If a stranger adds you or sends you a link to “make easy money,” it’s a scam.
🔴 Small, quick payments to build trust: Fraudsters deliberately give small amounts upfront (₹50–₹500 or so) to create a sense of legitimacy and make you believe larger sums will follow.
🔴 Requesting bank account or personal details: Any unsolicited “job” asking for account details is risky. This can lead to both financial fraud and identity theft.
🔴 Tasks shifting from simple → complex → investment: Fraud starts with easy tasks (clicks, likes, reviews) and then escalates into high-stakes tasks involving “trading,” “crypto,” or “oil/gas.” These are designed so you “fail” and then owe money.
🔴 Claim of frozen account / penalty for mistakes: No real employer or platform penalizes workers for mistakes with lakhs of rupees. “Frozen account” is a classic scam excuse to extort more.
🔴 Urgency and emotional manipulation: Fraudsters claim the company will collapse, or you’ll lose your earlier earnings, unless you pay immediately. This pressure is a manipulation trick.
🔴 Continuous cycle of demands: Once you pay once, scammers know you are vulnerable. They keep inventing new penalties or tasks until you stop paying or run out of money.
How to Prevent Such Scams#
To protect yourself from falling into similar traps, follow these precautions:
- Beware of Online Task Offers: Be cautious of unsolicited offers to earn money by completing online tasks. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Avoid Sharing Bank Details: Never share your bank account details, UPI IDs, or other sensitive information with unknown individuals or platforms.
- Early warnigns: Be aware of early red flags as mentioned above.
- No Upfront Payments: Legitimate platforms do not ask for large payments to “unfreeze” accounts or withdraw funds. This is a common scam tactic to extract money.
- Report Suspicious Activity Immediately: If you suspect fraud, reporting it on the cybercrime.gov.in portal is a must. This is the official platform for cybercrime complaints in India. Additionally, inform your bank and visit your local police station or cyber police station for further assistance.
By staying informed and cautious, we can protect ourselves and others from falling victim to online scams. If you’ve been a target, don’t stay silent, report it immediately and spread awareness.