Rising Online Job Scams: Tambaram Cyber Crime Wing Addresses Over 200 Complaints

The Cyber Crime wing of Tambaram City Police has been inundated with more than 200 complaints of cyber frauds, particularly related to online part-time job scams, this year. Victims, lured through WhatsApp and Telegram messages, lost a staggering ₹20 crore to fraudsters. Notably, the Cyber Crime Police managed to freeze ₹5 crore through persistent efforts.

The modus operandi involves enticing victims with offers of online part-time jobs, such as YouTube engagement, Google reviews, and fake crypto trading or investments on fraudulent websites. Initially paid small amounts for tasks, victims are gradually moved to larger Telegram groups, where they are coerced into paying subscriptions for supposedly higher-paying tasks.

Fake success stories posted in the groups build victims’ confidence, leading them to invest more money. The fraudsters then manipulate victims with time-bound tasks, demanding penalty payments and freezing their earnings. Typically, educated individuals, including those employed in IT firms, have been falling prey to these cyber scams, according to senior police officers.