Sambalpur: Online Fraud; A Tale of Deception and Extortion
Despite warnings and preventative measures, online fraud is rising, with criminals devising new tactics to exploit unsuspecting victims. Sumit Kumar Agarwal, who lives in AN Guha Lane Gujarati Colony in Sambalpur, is the latest victim of this disturbing trend. The town police have filed a complaint based on Agarwal’s accusation that he was extorted of Rs 2 lakhs through a deceptive plan involving assignments for likes and followers on social media. This incident shows the ongoing challenge that law enforcement has in combating new cybercrime tactics. Authorities are investigating the case as part of their ongoing efforts to address the growing threat of online fraud.
According to the complaint, Sumit Kumar Agarwal received a message on the 26th of last month, enticing him to earn money through part-time work. Subsequently, he joined Telegram, where he was promised 10 to 20 rupees for activities like liking, commenting, and searching on various social media posts. Initially, payments were deposited into Sumit’s bank account after completing the tasks, averaging 20 to 30 jobs a day and earning him 200 to 300 rupees. However, his greed led him to join the “excellent group” on Telegram, where he was encouraged to build a team for additional earnings. Despite this, he never received the outstanding amounts, with the fraudsters claiming frozen accounts and delayed transfers as excuses.
On January 28, Sumit Kumar Agarwal received a Telegram message instructing him to deposit 7000 rupees to recover his previous earnings. The message assured a full refund of all funds if he lodged a complaint and provided his bank account details. Additionally, a Telegram ID named Rahul Sharma suggested using a code, page 4635. Operating under various pretexts, the fraudsters systematically looted 2 lakh rupees from Sumit Kumar Agarwal.
On January 28, Sumit Kumar Agarwal deposited amounts of 1 thousand, 2 thousand, and a total of 12 thousand rupees into a bank account under the name Raja Babu. Additionally, on the same day, he deposited 24 thousand, 30 thousand, 34 thousand, and 1 lakh rupees into a bank account registered under the name Narendra Yadav. The fraudsters, under the guise of resolving his previous losses, advised him to deposit another 1 lakh rupees. Realizing he was a victim of fraud, Agarwal reported the incident at the town police station today. The town police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the matter.
