My Story: How I Got Scammed#
For some time, I was earning a small amount of money daily, around ₹150-₹300, by completing Google ratings on a normal website through Telegram. Everything seemed real - the payments were smooth, and the small daily credits gave me confidence that this was a genuine opportunity.
The fraudsters were very smart. By allowing me to earn steadily at the start, they built my trust and dependency. I began to believe that if I invested more, I could earn much higher amounts.
Then, I received a message saying that I now had to do “prepaid tasks” to continue earning. At first, I hesitated, but since they had always paid me earlier, I thought it was safe. I even tried it for 1-2 days, and the balance in my account increased—again making me believe it was legitimate.
But everything changed soon after. I was tricked into depositing ₹25,000 for prepaid tasks. After paying, the fraudsters stopped responding properly. Even though my account balance still shows ₹43,000, they refuse to give me the withdrawal code. Instead, they keep demanding that I deposit another ₹30,000, claiming only then my withdrawal will be completed.
This scam taught me how fraudsters gain trust with small consistent rewards before trapping victims into bigger losses.
How the Fraud Happened#
Trust-Building with Small Earnings:
- They allowed me to earn ₹150-₹300 daily without issues, making it feel genuine and safe.
Prepaid Task Introduction:
- Once my trust was built, they introduced prepaid tasks with promises of bigger returns.
Fake Balance Display:
- The website showed my balance growing, including after I deposited money, which gave me false confidence.
Large Advance Payment Trap:
- I deposited ₹25,000, believing my earlier smooth experience meant the platform was safe.
Withdrawal Block & New Demands:
- When I tried to withdraw, they blocked it, demanded another ₹30,000, and stopped responding.
Warning Signs: When to Exercise Caution#
- 🔴 Too-Smooth Initial Earnings: Fraudsters give small payouts first to win your trust.
- 🔴 Prepaid Task Requirement: Legit companies never ask you to pay in order to earn.
- 🔴 Fake Balance Display: Shown balances are often manipulated to make you invest more.
- 🔴 Any earnings offer trough messaging or social media platforem: Telegram is being frequently used by fraudsters to dupe people
How to Protect Yourself#
Never Trust “Easy Money” Schemes:
- Small, consistent early earnings are bait-not proof of legitimacy.
Avoid Prepaid Tasks Completely:
- If asked to deposit money to continue working or withdraw, it’s a scam.
Double-Check Platforms Before Investing:
- Search for reviews, complaints, or scam alerts online before going ahead.
Don’t Rely on Displayed Balances:
- Numbers on an app/website can be faked to trick you into bigger investments. They delierately show fake inflated balance which is actually not your earning.
Report and Raise Awareness:
- File a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in.
- Report the fraudulent Telegram group/page to stop more victims from being trapped.
Takeaway#
Fraudsters often play the long game. They first let you earn small amounts to earn your confidence, then gradually push you into making larger prepaid deposits. The fake balance you see is only a trick to keep you trapped.
If any platform asks you to deposit to earn or to withdraw, it is almost certainly a scam.