Online Task Scam Exposes Rising Threat of Telegram-Based Frauds
Rohtak | In yet another case highlighting the growing menace of online task-based cyber fraud, a young man from Haryana’s Rohtak district was cheated of ₹10.14 lakh after being lured with promises of easy earnings through so-called “task completion” activities. The district cyber police have arrested three members of the fraud gang, who were produced before a court on Saturday. One accused had been arrested earlier.
The case was registered on August 16, 2025, on the complaint of Jatin, a resident of Morkhedi village, under Sections 318(4) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the cyber police station.
How the scam unfolded
According to the police investigation, Jatin received a message on Telegram on August 11, offering a work-from-home opportunity. When he responded, he was told the job involved giving ratings to hotels and completing simple online tasks.
After agreeing, he was added to a Telegram group, where the fraudsters initially assigned him a task involving ₹7,000. Upon completing it, a dashboard linked to an ID created in his name showed a profit of ₹14,000, creating the illusion of quick and genuine returns.
Encouraged by the apparent success, Jatin was then asked to complete a larger task worth ₹28,000. However, when he attempted to withdraw the displayed amount, the transaction failed.
‘Complete one more task or lose everything’
The fraudsters then told him that to unlock withdrawals, he would need to complete another task by depositing ₹64,700. He was also warned that if he failed to do so, the entire amount he had already invested would be forfeited.
Under mounting pressure and fear of losing his money, Jatin continued transferring funds through multiple transactions. In total, the accused managed to extract ₹10.14 lakh from him. He was able to withdraw only ₹4,400, while repeated demands for additional payments were made in the name of “account verification” and “task completion”.
Realising he had been duped, Jatin approached the cyber police, following which a formal investigation was initiated.
Police action and arrests
Cyber police station in-charge Kuldeep Singh said that during the probe, the investigation team arrested Vishal, Shahrukh and Sohail alias Sonu, all residents of Rajasthan. Earlier, Surya Prakash, a resident of Kanta Kathuria Colony in Bikaner, was also arrested. Police said around ₹2 lakh of the cheated amount had been transferred into Surya Prakash’s bank account.
The police are now examining bank trails, digital wallets and Telegram accounts linked to the racket to identify other members of the network and recover the cheated money.
Rising threat of task-based cyber fraud
Cybercrime officials warn that such task-based scams are spreading rapidly across India, especially targeting young people and job seekers with promises of easy income, work-from-home flexibility and quick profits.
In most cases, victims are deliberately allowed to withdraw a small amount initially to build trust. Once confidence is established, they are pushed into depositing increasingly larger sums, after which withdrawals are blocked.
Police advisory
- The cyber police have advised citizens to remain cautious and avoid:
- Responding to unsolicited job offers on messaging apps
- Paying money upfront for “tasks” or “account activation”
- Trusting dashboards or apps showing guaranteed profits
Officials have urged victims to report such incidents immediately to cyber police stations or through the national cybercrime reporting portal.
