31 January,2024 03:40 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Representational Pic/File
A computer technician from Thane district in Maharashtra lost Rs 17.33 lakh in an online 'task' fraud, an officials said on Wednesday, reported the PTI.
The computer technician has become the latest victim of an online fraud wherein fraudsters lured him with the promise to earn quick money by rating some tasks and investing in bitcoins, a police official said, as per the PTI.
The victim, a resident of Dombivali township, lost Rs 17.33 lakh in the fraud from December 8, 2023, to January 9.
"The victim was approached with offers to earn big money through social media platforms. He was promised huge returns simply by rating certain online tasks and investing in bitcoins. The victim invested Rs 17.33 lakh over a month. He failed to receive any returns and his investment was also blocked," the official said, according to the PTI.
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The "online task fraud" typically involves trapping victims by making them perform tasks like liking videos etc. and making small payments initially to win their trust.
The victims were later lured to invest money to earn big returns.
A case was registered under the Information Technology Act and further investigation is underway, the official added.
Meanwhile, in an another incident, the Thane Police have launched an investigation against a father-son duo for allegedly misappropriating consignments of synthetic rubber stored in their facility in Thane district, an official said on Wednesday, according to the PTI.
Prima facie assessment shows the fraud runs into more than Rs 6.50 crore, the official said quoting FIRs lodged by multiple firms against the duo who operated the cold storage firm in Bhiwandi.
No arrest has been made so far.
"Several firms stored synthetic rubber in the unit run by Jayantilal Dedia and Jayesh Dedia. However, the duo allegedly failed to deliver the stored goods to the rightful owners and misappropriated the consignments," the official said.
A case has been registered under sections 407 (Criminal breach of trust by carrier etc) and 409 (the criminal breach of trust by a public servant, banker, merchant, or agent) of the Indian Penal Code, and the investigation is underway.
(with PTI inputs)
