The Yamunanagar Police have issued a public advisory warning citizens against the growing menace of “work from home” cyber frauds, in which scammers lure people with promises of easy online income before cheating them of their money. Superintendent of Police Kamaldeep Goyal said cyber criminals are increasingly targeting individuals through fake job offers, with homemakers and women emerging as some of the primary victims. He added that even well-educated people have fallen prey to such scams. According to the police, fraudsters typically contact victims through social media platforms, messaging applications or phone calls, offering attractive work-from-home opportunities that claim to provide quick earnings for completing simple online tasks. The scam usually begins with a small payment to gain the victim’s confidence. Victims are often told they can earn money by clicking links, rating products or completing online assignments. Once trust is established, cyber criminals display fake earnings and fabricated account balances to encourage victims to invest larger sums.

SP Goyal said fraudsters then create false reasons such as “system errors” or “expired points” and persuade victims to deposit money to recover their earnings or upgrade their membership. By the time victims realise the deception, they have already transferred substantial amounts to the fraudsters.He noted that many victims, particularly women, hesitate to inform their family members after being cheated, allowing the fraud to go unreported for a longer period. The police have advised the public not to believe claims promising guaranteed income through simple online clicks or task-based assignments. Citizens have also been urged to verify the authenticity of any job offer before sharing personal information or making financial transactions.

In the event of any financial or online fraud, SP Goyal appealed to victims to report the incident immediately by calling the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or filing a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. He also advised affected persons to approach the nearest police station, cyber help desk or cyber police station without delay, as prompt reporting significantly improves the chances of recovering lost funds.

 POD/DESK