Ahmedabad: A 29-year-old homemaker from Juhapura lost Rs 11 lakh to cybercrooks who allegedly lured her with a work-from-home offer on Instagram, gained her confidence by making small initial payments, and later persuaded her to transfer bigger amounts on the promise of higher commissions.According to an FIR registered with the city Cyber Crime police station, the complainant came across an Instagram story advertising a work-from-home opportunity on March 5. She clicked on the link and was redirected to a WhatsApp account identified as “Michellegrewe”, where she was told she could earn money by liking products on shopping websites and sharing screenshots of the likes as proof.Police said the woman was initially asked to do simple tasks linked to an e-commerce platform. She was then directed to register on a website, where she submitted her personal details, including her mobile number and bank account information. She was asked to pay a verification fee of Rs 200 through a QR code as part of the ‘registration’ process.According to the complaint, the fraudsters initially paid her more than the amounts she deposited, including Rs 300 against Rs 200 and Rs 600 against Rs 500. They also gave higher returns on later deposits, which led her to believe the offer was genuine.The woman was later connected with another WhatsApp user, described as a “tutor”, and added to a group named “VIP TASK 4K WITH 30% COMMISSION”. Police said several members in the group appeared to discuss tasks and earnings, creating an impression that others were making money through the scheme. Investigators said the accused then began asking her to invest larger sums, claiming that higher deposits would bring higher commissions. She was allegedly asked to transfer money to different bank accounts over several days.When the woman requested the return of her money, the accused allegedly told her that her platform “credit score” had dropped due to her conduct and that she would have to deposit more money to restore it before any withdrawal could be processed.Between March 5 and March 16, the woman transferred a total of Rs 10.7 lakh but received no further payments. She later informed her father and brother, who told her it appeared to be cyber fraud. Her brother contacted the national cybercrime helpline, after which the family approached Cyber Crime police station.Police have registered a case of cheating and criminal breach of trust and are investigating the bank accounts and WhatsApp numbers used in the alleged fraud.
