Bhumika Sorathia from Gujarat must have never thought joining a Telegram group would drive her to death.
Sorathia, a private bank employee at IIFL Bank, had joined a Telegram group that offered money in return for completing small tasks. Initially, she earned small sums as rewards, but was soon manipulated into investing larger amounts, and eventually lost lakhs. At 25, she died by suicide. A note she left mentioned being trapped in a debt of Rs 28 lakh.
What is an online task scam?
Also known as “task-based job scams,” frauds lure unsuspecting individuals, often via WhatsApp or Telegram, into completing simple tasks online for money. While they may pay initially to build trust, the real goal is to convince victims to invest money, which they never recover.
How do these scams work?
Indianexpress.com spoke with several users who are or were a part of such Telegram or WhatsApp groups that offered money in return for doing some simple tasks. One user, Rakshit (name changed), said he doesn’t remember how he was added to the group, but the admin of the group provided him with an agent. The agent gave one demo task, and after completing the same, transferred a decent amount (around Rs 200).
Gradually, the number of tasks increased by 20 tasks every day. The tasks were easy: a five-star rating for some product or a place, or a simple translation, or a like on a YouTube video. But the magic of the scam, Rakshit says, happens usually a day or two later, when the admin asks to invest the money.
How do these scams work?
Indianexpress.com spoke to several individuals who had joined such Telegram or WhatsApp groups.
Rakshit (name changed) doesn’t recall how he was added to the group. An admin connected him with an “agent” who gave him a demo task. After completing it, Rakshit received Rs 200. The number of tasks grew—20 per day—ranging from rating products and translating text to liking YouTube videos. “The real trap,” Rakshit said, “comes when the admin asks you to invest money.”
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Vaibhav (name changed) earned Rs 150 for his first few tasks. But then he was asked to deposit Rs 3,000 with a promise of Rs 1,000 per task. That’s when he backed out, suspecting a scam. “I figured they’d just take my money and disappear.”
Pranav (name changed) wasn’t as lucky. He was paid Rs 250 for writing five fake Google reviews. Then came a “master task”: invest Rs 1,470 to earn Rs 4,500. He ended up losing Rs 5,000 before realising it was a scam.
Shubham (name changed) has a different story. Aware of how these scams work, he completes the initial paid tasks, then exits the group once they ask for investment. “In short, I scam the scammers,” he said, laughing.
Why these scams work
Cyber expert Deependra Singh of Betul Police, Madhya Pradesh, explained, “People who spend more time at home, like job seekers or homemakers, are easy targets. Scammers start with a simple message offering easy income. Victims often don’t realise it’s a trap until they’re too deep in.”
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Singh said the scammers build trust by sending small payments at first. Once the victim feels confident, they are asked to invest larger sums. Scammers often direct victims to fake websites showing fabricated earnings and profiles, making the setup appear legitimate.
Singh and advocate Tushar Sharma, cyber expert and co-founder of The Organization for Enlightenment & Education (TOFEE), suggested some red flags to spot this scam:
Unrealistic earnings: Rs 100 per like or review, or promises of Rs 5,000 a day, are too good to be true.
Lack of verifiable information: No company website, physical address, or helpline. Scammers use fake names or impersonate legitimate firms to lure people.
Exclusive use of Telegram/WhatsApp: No professional emails or contracts.
No formal documentation: Real employers issue contracts, offer letters, and tax info. Scammers don’t.
Instant payments followed by demands: Rs 60 for a task, then Rs 500 to unlock the “next level”. Real jobs never ask you to pay to work.
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High-pressure tactics: Scammers create a sense of urgency with lines like “Only 5 minutes left!” or “Limited slots, register now!” to rush decisions. Real opportunities don’t pressure you.
Requests for personal information: Sharing bank details or OTPs may lead to theft or phishing attacks.
Fake earnings proof: Edited screenshots showing others “earning Rs 40,000 a week”.
Referral schemes: Victims are encouraged to rope in friends, turning it into a pyramid model.
Tips to protect yourself:
– Always verify job offers from official sources
– Never share OTPs, personal credentials, or bank info
– Report scams on cybercrime.gov.in
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– Use ‘Sanchaar Sathi’ portal to report the unauthentic and scamming communication
– Call 1930 to report the cybercrime
– Educate others, especially students and homemakers who are frequent targets
The Safe Side
As the world evolves, the digital landscape does too, bringing new opportunities—and new risks. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, exploiting vulnerabilities to their advantage. In our special feature series, we delve into the latest cybercrime trends and provide practical tips to help you stay informed, secure, and vigilant online.
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