Online Task Fraud
Lured by glossy promises and instant payouts, Pune residents walked into a digital con that quietly drained their savings. Seemingly simple online assignments turned costly, exposing how organised cyber syndicates manipulate trust and empty bank accounts across the city
Pune has reported a surge in online task fraud cases over the past six months, with cybercriminals duping residents of nearly ₹12 lakh by luring them with promises of easy and quick income. In the previous year, three individuals from different parts of the city fell victim to such scams that revolved around seemingly harmless online tasks.
What is online task fraud?
Online task fraud is a cybercrime in which scammers lure individuals into transferring money by promising easy earnings through simple digital activities. These tasks often appear legitimate and low-risk, making them attractive to working professionals, students and business owners. The fraud relies heavily on psychological manipulation. By initially paying small amounts, fraudsters create a false sense of security. Victims are then pressured to invest larger sums, often being told they will lose their accumulated “profits” if they do not continue. The money is typically routed through mule accounts, making recovery difficult once the fraud is detected.
Modus Operandi
The fraudsters followed a similar pattern in all three cases. Victims were initially contacted through WhatsApp or Telegram by unidentified persons claiming to represent digital marketing or online optimisation firms. They were offered small payments for completing basic tasks such as rating hotels, liking videos or subscribing to social media channels.
To build credibility, the fraudsters transferred small amounts to the victims’ bank accounts or UPI wallets. Once trust was established, the victims were encouraged to take part in “prepaid tasks”, which required upfront payments in exchange for higher returns. When victims attempted to withdraw the displayed earnings, the scammers demanded additional payments under various pretexts, after which all communication was cut off.
Case Studies
In the first case, a 31-year-old man from Lohegaon was contacted by fraudsters in December 2025, and offered money for completing online tasks. After receiving small payments, he was persuaded to invest in prepaid tasks for higher returns. Trusting the scheme, he transferred ₹5.34 lakh over several transactions before realising he had been cheated.
In another incident, a 37-year-old businessman from Dattawadi was targeted in November 2025. The fraudsters promised him earnings of ₹2,500 per day and showed him fake profits of nearly ₹10 lakh on a mobile application. When he attempted to withdraw the amount, he was asked to deposit additional funds. Realising the fraud, he stopped responding, but not before losing ₹4.83 lakh.
The third case occurred in June 2025, when a 26-year-old employee from Khadakwasla was paid ₹1,500 for rating hotels online. Encouraged by the initial payment, she continued with the tasks and was gradually induced to transfer ₹3.88 lakh for prepaid activities. She later filed an online complaint, following which a case was registered with the Nanded City police after preliminary verification.
A senior inspector with Pune Cyber Police, Swapnali Shinde said, “These online task frauds are carefully designed to look genuine. Fraudsters deliberately pay small amounts at the beginning to win the victim’s confidence and then push them into transferring larger sums. People must be extremely cautious of offers, promising guaranteed daily income with minimal efforts.”
HOW TO STAY PROTECTED?
- Never transfer money for prepaid or investment-based tasks
- Avoid responding to unsolicited job offers on messaging apps
- Verify applications through official app stores and user reviews
- Do not trust screenshots or profit figures shared by unknown contacts
- Set low daily limits on UPI and net banking transactions
- Save screenshots of chats, payment details, and transaction IDs
- Report suspected fraud immediately through the cybercrime helpline no. 1930 or portal www.cybercrime.gov.in