A woman from Indore has fallen victim to a sophisticated online task completion scam, losing ₹10.08 lakh after being lured by promises of easy income on Instagram. Authorities warn of rising online fraud patterns mimicking earlier cases across India and abroad.
A woman in Indore has lost ₹10.08 lakh after falling for an online part-time job scam that began with a sponsored-style post on Instagram, according to police. The victim, Iti Jain, filed a complaint with Aerodrome police, who have registered a case against unidentified people and started tracing the bank accounts and digital trails used in the fraud.
Police said the scheme followed a familiar pattern seen in other recent cyber-fraud cases: the promise of easy income for simple online tasks, small initial payouts to build confidence and then escalating demands for larger transfers. Jain was told to complete rating jobs for hotels and restaurants and was later moved onto WhatsApp and Telegram, where a user calling themselves “Lavanya Anatt” claimed to be an NSE receptionist.
To strengthen the deception, the scammers first credited her with modest sums, including ₹3,900 and a ₹900 commission, before persuading her to send larger amounts of ₹25,000, ₹15,000 and ₹75,000 into specified accounts. Police said she was then directed to an “NSC Control Department” page, where she was told her account had been locked and that further payments were needed to release her money and an additional 30% commission.
The case fits a wider pattern of task-based online fraud that has hit victims in India and abroad. The Free Press Journal recently reported a separate Indore case in which a homemaker lost ₹24.16 lakh to a similar part-time job offer, while Business Standard described a Mumbai electrician who lost ₹10 lakh in a comparable “task completion” scam. In Malaysia, The Vibes reported that an account clerk was cheated out of nearly RM300,000 after being drawn into a fake online job through TikTok. Police in Indore are urging people to be cautious of unsolicited offers that promise quick returns for low-effort work, especially when early payments are used to create a false sense of trust.
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.
