Secunderabad man defrauded of Rs. 20.3 lakhs by cybercriminals posing as legitimate business

Secunderabad: A 39-year-old male victim from Secunderabad has lost Rs. 20,35,000 (Rupees twenty lakh thirty-five thousand) to cybercriminals posing as a legitimate company.

According to the cybercrime police, the victim was lured by a WhatsApp message from a company called “Fresher World,” which claimed to specialize in enhancing the click-through rates of Instagram videos.

The message promised the victim easy work-from-home opportunities, liking Instagram videos, taking screenshots, and submitting them to the scammers in exchange for Rs.150 per like. The scammers boasted that the victim could earn between ₹4,000 and ₹5,000 daily. Interested, the victim responded with “OK” and was directed to a Telegram link.

Following the instructions, the victim was told to gather videos from a provided link and submit them through Telegram. However, the scammers soon shifted the conversation to cryptocurrency investments, urging the victim to transfer money for purported gains.

After making several transfers, the victim was unable to withdraw the funds from a website linked to the scammers, “http://vsg2819.shop,” which redirected to “VSG.COM Crypto currency.” The transferred amount appeared on the website, but the withdrawal option was disabled, preventing the victim from accessing the funds.

After transferring a total of Rs. 20,35,000 (Rupees twenty lakh thirty-five thousand) to a site linked to the scammers, he was then asked to send even more money. It was at this point that the victim realized he had been targeted by cybercriminals and promptly filed a complaint to recover his lost funds.

Public Advisory:

Beware! Fake investment social media groups are proliferating on platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp, X, Instagram, and Facebook, promising high returns with minimal risk.

Do not trust promises of huge returns or fake profit screenshots. Always utilize SEBI-approved apps for investments. Consult a SEBI-registered financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Scammers may initially credit a small amount to gain your trust, but will later disable withdrawal options.

If you or someone you know is a victim of cybercrime fraud, please contact 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in. For emergencies related to cybercrime, call or WhatsApp at 8712665171.