Police in Karnataka’s Kolar district have uncovered a major work-from-home investment fraud, with thousands of victims losing over ₹50 crore in a scheme promising easy earnings through packing activities, revealing the rising danger of deceptive online scams.
Police in Karnataka’s Kolar district say they have uncovered a sprawling work-from-home fraud that allegedly cheated thousands of people out of more than ₹50 crore, exposing yet another investment-style scam built on promises of easy money and quick returns.
According to local reports, the operation was run through a firm called Sri Kalikadevi Enterprises, which opened branches in Kolar, Bengaluru and nearby areas in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Victims were allegedly told they could earn by packing everyday items such as blow torches, candles and paper plates from home. To secure the supposed jobs, they were asked to pay large advance deposits, sometimes running into several lakh rupees, with some early participants receiving small refunds or commissions to build confidence before payments suddenly stopped.
The apparent scale of the losses has left families reeling. Police complaints have been lodged across several stations, including Galpet, Budikote, Chikkajala, Devanahalli and Doddaballapur Rural. In Galpet alone, more than 350 people have filed grievances, and initial checks suggest more than ₹6 crore may have been siphoned off there. Many of those affected were said to be farmers, retired government teachers, labourers and low-income earners who had sold land, used life savings or pledged jewellery set aside for daughters’ weddings.
Police have arrested four key suspects, including the alleged husband-and-wife duo behind the scheme, and have begun moving to freeze bank accounts and other assets linked to the case. Investigators are now trying to trace the money and determine how much can be recovered for victims. The case underlines how work-from-home promises, when paired with advance-fee demands and unrealistic returns, can be used to lure people into large-scale fraud.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
