More than 20 people in Visakhapatnam have allegedly lost a combined ₹1 crore in a month to an online job scam that promised money for posting Google reviews. The fraudsters reportedly used small initial payments to gain victims’ confidence before persuading them to invest larger amounts.
According to the reports, individual victims lost between ₹2 lakh and ₹9 lakh. In one reported case, a 38-year-old man lost over ₹10 lakh after being approached on Telegram with offers of easy earnings through online tasks.
The victim was initially promised ₹100–200 per task for posting reviews and sharing screenshots as proof. After receiving small payments, including ₹630 against a deposit of ₹500 and ₹4,300 against ₹3,000, he was encouraged to invest larger sums through an online trading platform.
The fraud allegedly escalated when the victim attempted to withdraw his money. The operators claimed that trading errors had frozen his account and demanded additional deposits to restore access.
Another person, posing as a withdrawal manager, reportedly insisted that the victim improve his credit score before his funds could be released. Despite transferring more than ₹10 lakh, the complainant received neither his investment nor the promised returns.
Warning Signs of a Google Review Scam
- Upfront deposits: Legitimate task-based jobs should not require payments to unlock assignments or earnings.
- Small initial payouts: Early payments may be used to establish credibility and encourage larger investments.
- Blocked withdrawals: Claims of frozen accounts or trading errors should be independently verified.
- Repeated payment demands: Requests for extra money to release existing funds are a major red flag.
- Unverified online recruiters: Exercise caution when strangers approach you through Telegram or messaging groups with unrealistic earning promises.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has warned about fraudulent online task-based jobs. Victims should preserve chats, payment receipts and transaction details, contact their bank immediately, and report cyber financial fraud by calling 1930 or visiting the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Visakhapatnam city police have reportedly registered a case following complaints alleging cheating, impersonation, identity theft and organised crime.
