Western Coal Limited Manager Loses ₹77 Lakhs in Task Fraud, Case Filed

Despite efforts by law enforcement, the issue of "task frauds" perpetrated by cybercriminals continues to plague citizens, who remain vulnerable to these deceptive tactics. In a recent incident, a 56-year-old manager at Western Coal Limited (WCL) fell victim to a task fraud, losing a substantial ₹77 lakhs between September 26 and October 12 this year. Following a complaint by Sarikonda Trinadh Kotam Raju, a resident of Sandesh City, Jamtha, the cyber police have initiated a fraud case in this matter.

According to the police, Raju, who works as a manager at WCL, maintains an account on the messaging platform Telegram. He received a link from another Telegram user regarding a part-time job opportunity. The account holder, who goes by the username "@letya313beira," claimed that Raju could earn 50 rupees for each "like" on a YouTube video, provided he shared a screenshot as proof. As a lighthearted gesture, Raju "liked" 50 videos and shared the corresponding screenshots with the unknown person, who promptly transferred the promised money.

Initially encouraged by these interactions, Raju started trusting the Telegram user and didn't suspect any wrongdoing when he was sent a new link and asked to complete an application form that required his bank details. Raju proceeded to enter his password and other bank account details into the form.

Between September 26 and October 12, the cybercriminal siphoned off 77.04 lakhs from Raju's bank account. Realizing he had been deceived, Raju promptly reported the incident to the cyber police.

Under the supervision of PI Amit Dolas, the cyber police have registered a fraud case and initiated an investigation. It is disheartening to witness individuals of education and knowledge falling victim to such fraudulent schemes and scammers. Meanwhile, it appears that the authorities have yet to find a comprehensive solution to address these cybercriminals who consistently exploit unsuspecting citizens.

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