Police have arrested four men and a woman for operating a fraudulent work-from-home online task scheme that cheated a 29-year-old woman of Rs17 lakh. The accused created a Telegram group where they promised high commissions in exchange for completing simple online tasks such as submitting reviews and making payments on specific websites.
Among the arrested is Nidhi Agarwal, a 47-year-old illegal cryptocurrency trader, who allegedly laundered the stolen money by converting it into crypto assets.
According to the police, the victim—who declined to be identified—was actively seeking job opportunities when she was lured by the promise of high returns. Initially, she received small commissions for completing basic tasks. However, the scam escalated when she was asked to make repeated UPI transactions to unlock higher-tier incentives. Eventually, she was duped of Rs17 lakh.
Authorities confirmed that the fraudulent activity involved a coordinated group effort, with each accused playing a specific role in manipulating the victim. The case highlights the growing trend of online task scams using social media platforms like Telegram and the use of cryptocurrencies to mask money trails.
