The Greater Noida resident was allegedly the victim of an internet scam that cost him the price $20.54 lakh after he was lured into the scam through a text message offering work from home, which involved rating hotels on Google Maps for monetary reward.
Police said they registered an FIR against an unidentified suspect and launched an investigation into the case which took place in January this year but reported it to them only on Monday.
In his complaint to the police, Sandeep Kumar, who lives in Chi-1 area of Greater Noida, said, “I received a message on his WhatsApp number that I can work from home, in which I Need hotel rating. on Google Maps and in return I will receive money as a reward.”
He was then added to a Telegram group with about 100 members, where he started doing ranking tasks. According to the FIR, as he continues, the duties will soon include investment activities.
“I started ranking hotels, etc. With these missions, there were also some investment missions that I invested in.” $First it was 50,000, but I couldn’t withdraw the money from the website,” Kumar said, adding that when he tried to withdraw the money, he was asked to pay another amount. $5 lakh tax.
Realizing he had been defrauded, Kumar found himself unable to gain access $He claimed he had invested 20,54,464.
“They asked me to pay $5 lakhs more tax in their account where I came to know that I was a victim of financial fraud. I can’t withdraw approx $20,54,464 investment,” Kumar said.
In addition to financial losses, Kumar said he received “death threats” from scammers via Telegram and phone calls.
“I received death threats from these people on Telegram as well as calls to freeze accounts,” he added.
A police official said an FIR has been registered at the cyber crime police station in Noida Sector 36 and the matter is being investigated.
“The FIR has been registered under Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating), 506 (criminal intimidation) and provisions of the Information Technology Act,” the local police official added.
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