Hyderabad: A trader from Abids was duped in a part-time job scam under the guise of purchasing watermelons, losing over Rs 2 lakh. The fraudsters promised a commission of up to 1,000% on investments and daily earnings of around Rs 5,100 over a 58-day period.
The case, reported in the last week of Jan, is currently under investigation by Hyderabad cybercrime police.
According to police, the 41-year-old trader received a WhatsApp message in the last week of Dec 2024, offering a part-time job to buy products through an app and earn commission. The scammers encouraged him to purchase fruits, ice creams, and milkshakes. Following their recommendation, he bought watermelons for Rs 97,000, expecting total earnings of Rs 2.98 lakh over the 58-day investment period.
When the app initially showed returns as promised, the trader made additional investments. However, he soon discovered that he could not withdraw his returns, realising he had been scammed. He then filed a complaint with police.
An investigating official advised the public to be wary of such offers, stressing that no legitimate business pays commissions for purchases. High returns promised by such fraudsters are unrealistic, the official said and cautioned against clicking on links from unknown sources, as they may also infect devices with malware.
