‘Task-Based Earnings’ Work-From-Home Cyber Fraud: Police Trace 100 Bank Accounts Used In Cheating Case
Jagdalpur/Dantewada: In a breakthrough in a work-from-home cyber fraud case, Dantewada Police have arrested an accused from Gujarat for allegedly cheating victims of ₹7.91 lakh by promising “double returns” on task-based online work. The arrest followed a detailed financial trail analysis of more than 100 bank accounts and cyber forensic examination.
Arrest in Jamnagar After Forensic Trail
The arrested accused has been identified as Bhagad Akram, a resident of Jamnagar, Gujarat. He was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody. The case was registered at Bacheli police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.
According to investigators, the complainant from Bacheli and his associates were contacted between March and June 2025 through social media and messaging platforms. The accused allegedly posed as a representative of a company offering task-based work-from-home opportunities, claiming that small online tasks would yield double the invested amount.
To gain confidence, the accused initially returned small payments after assigning minor tasks. Once trust was established, the victims were persuaded to invest larger sums in multiple instalments. The money was transferred to various bank accounts shared by the accused. After a certain point, the accused blocked all communication and disappeared.
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Layered Transfers Through Multiple Accounts
During the investigation, a joint team of the cyber cell and local police analysed transactions across more than 100 bank accounts. By mapping the financial trail, examining mobile number locations and using cyber forensic tools, the police traced the accused to Jamnagar. A team was sent to Gujarat, where he was apprehended.
Police said the accused used multiple bank accounts to layer the funds and complicate the transaction trail, making it difficult for victims to track the money. Preliminary findings suggest the possibility of links to a larger organised cyber fraud network, with funds routed through several intermediary accounts.
Digital devices seized from the accused are being sent for forensic analysis to identify additional victims, associates and financial beneficiaries. Investigators are also examining whether similar task-based scams were carried out in other states using the same modus operandi.
Rising Trend of Task-Based Scams
Cybercrime analysts noted that task-based earning and part-time job scams have seen a sharp rise, particularly on social media and messaging platforms. Fraudsters often make small initial payments to create legitimacy before inducing victims to invest larger amounts, after which they terminate contact. In some cases, fake dashboards and company names are used to simulate real work environments.
Police have urged citizens to exercise caution while responding to online job offers that promise unusually high or quick returns. People have been advised not to transfer money for tasks, investments or “activation fees” without verifying the authenticity of the company through official channels.
The public has also been warned against clicking on unknown links or sharing OTPs, bank details or identity documents with unverified individuals. Authorities said early reporting significantly improves the chances of freezing fraudulent transactions.
Victims of cyber fraud have been advised to immediately call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or file a complaint on the cybercrime portal and inform the nearest police station. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are likely as the financial trail is examined and digital evidence is analysed.
