Culprits offered him chance to make money rating travel sites, hotels
The complainant was told to log in to a site named Omega Tours. Representation pic
Scammers have duped a Navi Mumbai resident of Rs 24 lakh after luring him with the chance to make money by rating travel sites and hotels online.
The complainant, 33, is employed by a private firm in Navi Mumbai. On November 9, 2022, he received a message on Telegram from a user, @Rupali_45874554, asking whether he was interested in a part-time online job. When the complainant asked what the job profile was, he was told it involved online ratings and reviews.
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The complainant told mid-day, “I was told another person would explain everything in detail. The next day, I was included in a group named ‘Champions’. There were many members, and they all were messaging about money being deposited in their accounts. I believed the messages.”
He added, “I then received messages from the ID @ishanbabuofficial explaining the nature of the work. There were 10 other members in the group. Maybe they are victims like me.” According to his FIR, the complainant was told to log in to a site named Omega Tours and give five stars to the sites www.theomegatours.com and www.travelnowbd.com. On doing so, Rs 841 was credited to his bank account.
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On November 11, he was told to pay Rs 10,000 in order to begin a certain work-related task. Later that day, he was made to pay Rs 14,432 to do another task. After giving his ratings, he received Rs 24,432, and Rs 3,094 as an ‘incentive’. Finding the work easy, the complainant then paid Rs 66,994 and completed the given task and received Rs 7,042 immediately.
On November 13, he paid Rs 1.95 lakh via four different UPI IDs but didn’t receive any payment, as the scammers claimed he had not finished his task. He was then asked to pay more money. So, on December 9, December 16 and December 26, the complainant paid Rs 2.63 lakh, Rs 5.56 lakh and Rs 13.93 lakh respectively.
“After paying Rs 24.08 lakh in total via UPI, I neither received any payment nor my money back. Finally, I rushed to the Nhava Sheva police station and registered a complaint,” the complainant stated.
The Nhava Sheva police have registered an FIR against unknown people under Section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the IT Act. No arrests have been made so far.
“Our cyber team is working on the case and attempts will be made to find out where the money has gone,” said Senior Inspector Madhukar Bhate of the Nhava Sheva police. “Though money has gone through different routes, it could have gone to one person or there must be an entire team involved,” he added.
Rs 10k
Initial sum paid by the victim
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