A Pune-Based Engineer Lost ₹20 Lakhs After Giving Likes To Social Media Posts
A Pune-Based Engineer Lost ₹20 Lakhs After Giving Likes To Social Media Posts
Synopsis:
A computer engineer located in Pune fell victim to an online fraud, resulting in a loss of ₹20.32 lakh. The scheme involved paid tasks on social media.
Pune, Maharashtra: The prevalence of online scams was a significant source of distress in the year 2023. Nevertheless, as we have transitioned into the year 2024, the alarming prevalence of cyber fraud shows no signs of diminishing. Individuals are experiencing significant financial losses to cyber criminals through internet scams, falling victim to their deceptive tactics. During a recent incident of cyber fraud, a computer engineer from Pune incurred a loss of almost ₹20.32 lakh as a result of engaging in liking some posts on social media.
The scam commenced when Avinash Krishnanakutti Kunnubaram, a 40-year-old IT professional residing in the Pimpri-Chinchwad region, received a mail from an unknown sender in March 2023. An unidentified individual presented Avinash with a chance to increase his income by fulfilling certain duties online.
In light of the work market’s instability and widespread layoffs, Avinash, seeking to increase his income, willingly accepted a part-time job at the start of 2023. He was given assignments that required him to endorse social media posts, in exchange for financial rewards. Following the completion of some duties, Avinash did receive pay, which subsequently fostered his belief in the fraudster. Nevertheless, the scammer subsequently lured him into joining a paid task group, which necessitated him to deposit funds in order to generate additional income.
Avinash happily agreed to the employment offer and ultimately sent a sum of ₹20.32 lakh by December 2023. Nevertheless, it was only at this moment that he realized he had become prey to a deceptive plot.
Realizing the seriousness of the issue, Kunnubaram addressed the Wakad police on January 3rd, and a formal complaint was filed under Sections 406, 419, 420, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, as well as Sections 66(c) and (d) of the Information Technology Act.
Significantly, this is not the initial instance of a victim being terminated from their employment due to online assignments. Multiple instances have been documented in recent months, wherein individuals willingly committed funds with the expectation of achieving greater financial gains. Ultimately, their endeavor resulted in financial loss when they endeavored to retrieve their invested funds. The individuals were either obstructed by the fraudulent organization or coerced by the scammer into making additional investments or relinquishing their claim to the funds.
In order to ensure your online safety and safeguard yourself against many forms of scams and fraudulent activities, it is crucial to follow some essential safety guidelines:
- Exercise utmost caution while dealing with emails, messages, or calls originating from unfamiliar or unanticipated sources.
- Refrain from clicking on hyperlinks or downloading attachments from unexpected individuals.
- Exclusively disclose personal information on websites that are secure and have a good reputation. Verify the presence of “https://” in the URL to guarantee a secure connection.
- Verify the authenticity of any solicitations for funds or payments. Verify the identity of the individual or entity initiating the request via a distinct and reliable means of communication.
- Ensure that you regularly update your operating system, browsers, and antivirus software in order to fix any weaknesses or security flaws.
- Keep yourself updated on the most recent online scams and fraudulent activities. Additionally, it is important to be cognizant of phishing schemes and familiarize oneself with the usual tactics employed by scammers.
- If something appears suspicious or excessively favorable, it is likely to be deceptive. Rely on your intuition and proceed with prudence.
About The Author:
Yogesh Naager is a content marketer who specializes in the cybersecurity and B2B space. Besides writing for the News4Hackers blog, he’s also written for brands including CollegeDunia, Utsav Fashion, and NASSCOM. Naager entered the field of content in an unusual way. He began his career as an insurance sales executive, where he developed an interest in simplifying difficult concepts. He also combines this interest with a love of narrative, which makes him a good writer in the cybersecurity field. In the bottom line, he frequently writes for Craw Security.
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