Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (MS)
Udupi, Jan 27: A growing number of unsuspecting individuals are falling prey to the schemes of online part-time job fraudsters, enticed by the prospect of quick money.
In Udupi district, several such cases have recently come to light. Victims have reported losses on various dates in January: Rs 2.5 lac on January 1, Rs 3 lac on January 2, Rs 18 lac on January 4, Rs 62 lac on January 12, Rs 1.8 lac on January 13, Rs 1.38 lac on January 16, Rs 6.16 lac on January 20, and Rs 43 lac on January 23.
In the first case, Akansa, a student in one of the colleges in Manipal, received a part-time job offer on WhatsApp on January 17. The fraudster claimed that easy money could be earned through tasks on the Telegram app. Akansa initially received Rs 150 in her bank account for completing tasks, but later lost Rs 14.75 lac in various phases without receiving the promised amount.
In the second case, Prithvi of Havanje was lured to invest money in online trading on a Telegram app. He transferred Rs 5.19 lac from his ICICI bank to the stranger's suggested bank account but did not receive any returns.
In the third case, Prasad Kumar, a resident of Laxmindranagar in Manipal, was deceived by a stranger who claimed there was an undelivered parcel in his name with illegal products. The scammer, posing as a Mumbai police officer, conducted a Skype video call and obtained Prasad Kumar's bank details, transferring Rs 9.83 lac from his account.
Police investigations revealed that the fraudsters operate from out-of-state locations, mainly in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Kolkata. The fraud has now extended to Kannada-speaking regions, with the accused using a mix of English and Hindi. Cyber experts caution the public to stay vigilant, emphasizing that more than 90% of people receive calls and messages but only a few fall victim to these scams. The police advise immediate reporting of fraud to facilitate tracing.
Udupi SP Dr Arun K stated, "If a complaint is registered within one hour of the fraud at the nearest police station, it can be traced. Police are conducting awareness campaigns to prevent online frauds, and every police station has two cyber experts. Tracing these tricksters is facing some technical challenges, but the police are employing various methods to expedite the tracking process."