Woman Loses Lakhs in “Work-From-Home” Scam
A 22-year-old woman from Gorakhpur lost ₹6.17 lakh after falling prey to a work-from-home scam that promised lucrative “item boosting” assignments on Telegram. The fraudsters lured her with small initial profits, gradually pushing her into depositing larger sums in multiple bank accounts before blocking her and disappearing.
Searching for part-time work, student walked into trap
According to the complaint filed at Shahpur police station and the Cyber Police Station, the victim, Shikha Gupta, had been looking for part-time work she could manage alongside her studies. Amid this search, she received a Telegram message from an individual claiming to represent an online task-based company.
The person assured her that the platform provided “item boosting tasks”—a process where users invest a small amount to complete simple assignments and earn significant returns. Believing the offer to be a legitimate work-from-home opportunity, she joined the Telegram group managed by the fraudsters.
Small gains initially, then a spiral of high-value deposits
Investigators said the gang used a well-known tactic: they first gave Shikha small tasks, credited nominal profits to her dashboard, and built her confidence. As soon as she showed interest, the fraudsters began asking for larger deposits to “unlock higher-value tasks” and “qualify for bigger payouts”.
Over several days, she transferred ₹6.17 lakh across seven different bank accounts provided by the scammers. Whenever she attempted to withdraw the accumulated money, the fraudsters claimed system errors or demanded additional deposits to “complete verification”.
The moment she refused to pay further and questioned the process, she was removed from the Telegram group and her phone number was blocked by all associated accounts.
Police register FIR; seven account holders under investigation
Shahpur SHO confirmed that an FIR has been registered against the holders of the seven bank accounts that received the deposits. Police cyber experts are analysing transaction trails, account KYC details, and communication logs to identify the individuals operating behind the screens.
“All digital evidence—including Telegram chats, screenshots, bank transaction records, and call details—has been secured. The involved accounts are being traced, and the process to freeze them has already begun,” the SHO said.
Police believe the gang is part of a wider network involved in work-from-home scams that operate through messaging platforms using VoIP numbers and foreign IP addresses.
Rise in task-based online job frauds across the region
Gorakhpur and several adjoining districts have seen a rapid rise in job-related cyber frauds, particularly those involving task-based platforms offering unrealistic returns. These scams generally follow a similar pattern:
- Messages sent via Telegram/WhatsApp from unknown numbers
- Use of foreign or VoIP-based phone lines
- Initial tasks showing small, instant profits
- Gradual pressure to deposit higher amounts
- Sudden disappearance once the victim hesitates
Cyber officials warn that any job requiring an upfront payment, deposit, or recharge is almost certainly fraudulent.
Police advisory to the public
Authorities have urged residents to stay cautious of unsolicited work-from-home offers and avoid making payments to unknown accounts. Victims of cyber fraud have been asked to immediately contact the National Cyber Helpline 1930 or file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in within the “golden hour” for a higher chance of fund recovery.
