A 50-year-old company secretary in Thane, Maharashtra, lost close to Rs 11 lakh after being duped by a cybercriminal who promised him a part-time internet job, police said on Friday. According to them, the victim filed a complaint against an unnamed lady, on the basis of which Kapurbawdi police station initiated a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 420 (cheating) and the Information and Technology (IT) Act.
“According to the lawsuit, the victim said that a Twitter user sent him a text message last month offering him a part-time job. He was required to utilise certain mobile applications and make payments after accepting the offer, which he did, an official said. The victim’s duties included rating hotels and tourist attractions for which he would get compensation. The police officer said, “He was asked to join some travel platforms and was asked to pay for that.”
“At first, he received a bonus in an effort to boost his confidence. He soon ceased receiving commissions and bonuses, however, and he ended up losing Rs. 10,72,517. He added that after attempting to reach the accused but failing to do so, he went to the police.