Pune 13 June 2025: If you’ve ever received a message offering quick money for doing simple online tasks, beware it could be a trap. A recent incident from Pune highlights how dangerous such scams can be.
A resident of Shukrawar Peth, who runs a pre-owned vehicle business, lost a whopping ₹11.5 lakh after falling prey to an online task scam. According to a report by TOI, the victim first got a message on his mobile messenger app claiming he could earn ₹150 for completing small online tasks.
Curious, he decided to give it a try and was immediately paid the promised amount, which boosted his confidence. Encouraged by the instant payments, he continued performing more tasks shared through a group on the messaging app, each time receiving money without delay.
However, the fraudsters soon escalated the scheme. They offered him a chance to earn bigger sums by completing ‘merchant tasks’. This time, though, he was required to deposit money first, with the promise of high returns. Trusting the scammers, the victim transferred money to various accounts.
When he tried to withdraw his supposed earnings, the fraudsters kept demanding more money under different pretexts. In just two days, the man ended up losing a total of ₹11.5 lakh.
Police have urged citizens to stay alert and not fall for offers that promise quick money in exchange for upfront payments.
