Two Duped Of ₹5.4 Lakh In Pune Through Fake IT Job And Online Task Scams

By Prashant for PuneriPages.in

PUNE: In two separate but equally deceptive incidents, cybercrooks have conned two Pune residents out of a combined ₹5.4 lakh by preying on their search for employment. One scam began with a seemingly harmless offer to “like” YouTube videos for money, while the other promised a coveted IT job. Police say these cases highlight how scammers are using both modern online-task fraud and the age-old advance fee job trap — tactics that are currently snaring job seekers across India.

Scam Type 1: The ‘Online Task’ Trap (Mundhwa Case)

Step 1: The Hook – A young woman from Mundhwa received a text message about a part-time job involving “liking” YouTube videos.

Step 2: Building Trust – She was added to a Telegram group, given small, easy tasks, and even received a modest initial payment to prove the job’s legitimacy.

Step 3: The Trap – She was then introduced to “prepaid tasks” requiring her to invest her own money upfront with the promise of much higher commissions.

Step 4: The Illusion – Her supposed earnings were displayed on a fake online portal, encouraging her to keep investing larger sums.

Step 5: The Collapse – When she tried to withdraw her large “profits,” the scammers demanded more money for “taxes” and fees. After the payments, they vanished.

Scam Type 2: The ‘Advance Fee’ Fraud (Hadapsar Case)

Step 1: The Lure – A Hadapsar man spotted an enticing job advertisement on social media for a well-known IT firm.

Step 2: The Promise – A supposed recruiter told him he had secured the position, pending certain “formalities.”

Step 3: The Drain – The victim was asked to pay multiple fees for registration, document verification, and training — each payment quickly followed by another demand.

Step 4: The Sunk Cost Trap – Fearing the loss of what he had already paid, the victim kept sending money, ultimately losing ₹2.7 lakh before realizing the offer was fake.

Universal Red Flags: How to Identify a Job Scam

Never Pay for a Job – Genuine employers never ask for fees for registration, training, or documentation.
Beware of Unsolicited Offers – Random texts or DMs offering jobs are almost always scams.
Vague Job Descriptions – If a “job” is simply liking videos or rating products, it’s likely a prepaid task scam.
No ‘Investment’ Required – Real jobs pay you; they don’t require you to invest your own money.
Unofficial Communication Channels – Legit employers use company email, not just WhatsApp or Telegram.

What You Should Do if Targeted

Report Immediately – File a complaint at the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Call for Help – Contact the national cybercrime helpline 1930.
Stop All Payments – Once suspicious, do not send any more money, no matter the excuses given.