SP Kamaldeep Goel issues special advisory; people advised not to fall for online offers promising easy money through clicks and fake earning platforms

Yamunanagar District Police have issued a special advisory to make the public aware of the growing threat of cyber fraud being carried out in the name of work-from-home opportunities. Superintendent of Police Kamaldeep Goel said cyber criminals are increasingly using attractive online earning offers to trap people, with women working or staying at home being among the targets.

SP Kamaldeep Goel said that cyber fraudsters often approach people with promises of earning good money from home without requiring significant investment or specialised skills. Such offers may initially appear genuine and attractive, particularly to people looking for additional income opportunities. However, the actual objective of the fraudsters is to gain the victim’s confidence and gradually persuade them to transfer money.

He said that educated people are also falling victim to such frauds. Cyber criminals are using increasingly sophisticated methods and carefully designed online platforms to make fraudulent schemes appear legitimate. Therefore, simply being educated or familiar with smartphones and the internet does not guarantee protection against cyber fraud.

According to the police advisory, in one common pattern of fraud, victims are offered small amounts of money for completing simple tasks such as clicking on links or performing basic activities online. Fraudsters may initially promise ₹50 or similar small payments for each click or task. This initial payment or the appearance of earnings on the screen is used to create confidence and encourage the victim to continue participating.

The victim is then shown a fake earning score or balance on an online platform. As the displayed amount increases, the victim may begin to believe that the scheme is genuine and that substantial money can be earned simply by completing more tasks.

The fraudsters then deliberately create a situation in which the victim is told that some mistake has been made or that certain points have been lost. They may claim that the accumulated amount can be recovered only if the victim deposits additional money or joins another level of the scheme.

At this stage, victims are often encouraged to invest progressively larger amounts. The fraudsters may describe these payments as deposits, recovery charges, membership fees, security amounts or payments required to unlock the accumulated earnings. The victim, already seeing a large amount displayed on the screen, may be tempted to pay more in the hope of recovering the supposed balance.

The police have warned that the amount displayed on such platforms may be completely fake. The apparent earnings are merely a tool used by cyber criminals to increase the victim’s confidence and greed. Once the victim begins transferring money, the fraudsters may continue demanding additional payments under different pretexts.

Eventually, victims realise that the promised earnings cannot be withdrawn and that the money they transferred has gone to the fraudsters. In some cases, the criminals may stop responding altogether after receiving a substantial amount.

SP Kamaldeep Goel urged people not to be attracted by offers promising easy money for clicking links or completing simple online tasks. He stressed that people should exercise caution whenever an unknown person or online platform promises unusually high returns for minimal effort.

The police have particularly advised people to remain cautious about unsolicited work-from-home messages received through social media platforms, messaging applications, phone calls, emails or unknown websites. Before accepting any online employment or earning opportunity, individuals should verify the identity of the company, its official website, registration details and the nature of the work.

People should also avoid transferring money merely to obtain a job or unlock supposed earnings. Genuine employment opportunities should be carefully verified, particularly when a person is asked to make payments before receiving income.

The SP appealed to people not to share sensitive financial information, banking credentials, passwords, OTPs, UPI PINs or other confidential details with unknown persons. Such information can potentially be misused to carry out further financial fraud.

He also advised family members to maintain open communication with relatives, particularly those who may be working from home or looking for online earning opportunities. In many cases, victims hesitate to tell their family members after losing money because they feel embarrassed or fear criticism. The police have urged people to report fraud immediately rather than hiding it.

The Yamunanagar Police have stressed that early reporting is extremely important in cases of online financial fraud. If a person becomes a victim of cyber or financial fraud, the incident should be reported immediately by calling the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930. The official National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal also allows citizens to submit cybercrime complaints online.

The official portal provides facilities for reporting financial fraud and other cybercrimes, and complainants are advised to provide accurate information and relevant evidence while filing a complaint.

Police have further advised victims to preserve screenshots, transaction details, bank statements, phone numbers, messages, website links and other evidence connected with the fraud. Such information can assist investigating agencies in tracing the offenders and taking appropriate action.

The police also appealed to citizens to approach their nearest police station, cyber help desk or cyber police station for assistance whenever required.

SP Kamaldeep Goel reiterated that people should not allow the lure of quick and easy money to override common sense. There is no legitimate shortcut in which a person is simply promised money for clicking tasks without a genuine business or employment arrangement behind it. Citizens should verify every online earning opportunity before sharing information, making payments or participating in financial transactions.

The district police said public awareness is an important weapon against cyber criminals. By remaining alert, verifying online offers and immediately reporting suspicious transactions, citizens can reduce the risk of falling victim to such fraudulent schemes.

The police appealed to residents to share the advisory with family members, friends and colleagues so that more people can recognise the warning signs of work-from-home fraud and protect their hard-earned money.

POD/DESK