Mumbai: Marathi Comedian Falls Victim to Cyber Fraud, Loses ₹61.83 Lakh

A shocking case of cyber fraud has come to light in Kandivali, where an unknown cyber gang duped a Marathi comedian of ₹61.83 lakh under the pretext of a part-time job involving liking various links. The North Regional Cyber Cell has registered a case against three unidentified cyber fraudsters under fraud and IT Act sections. The comedian, lured by the promise of high commissions, ended up losing a significant amount of money.

The 48-year-old complainant, a well-known comedy actor, has been living in Thakur Village, Kandivali, with his wife and daughter for the past ten years. On February 23, while he was at home, he received a message from an unknown WhatsApp number offering him a simple task of liking certain links. In return, he was promised commission-based earnings from the comfort of his home.

Believing the offer to be legitimate, the actor followed the instructions and completed the tasks. To build trust, the fraudsters initially deposited a small amount into his bank account. Later, he was added to a Telegram group, where he was asked to provide his bank details.

After completing ten tasks, he received ₹11,000 as a reward. Subsequently, he was offered "paid tasks" that required an upfront investment. The fraudsters promised a 30% commission on the invested amount. Encouraged by the initial profits, he invested large sums in multiple tasks.

Over time, his total investment ran into lakhs of rupees. After completing all tasks, his account showed a profit of ₹27.51 lakh. However, when he attempted to transfer the amount to his bank account, the transaction failed repeatedly. Upon inquiry, he was informed that his "credit score" in the task system was 80 and that he needed to reach 100 to withdraw the money.

To achieve this, he was asked to invest ₹19.70 lakh more. Once his score reached 100, the fraudsters told him that his balance had increased significantly but that he needed to pay 30% of it as tax before withdrawal. Trusting them, he transferred the required amount.

In total, he ended up transferring ₹61.83 lakh under various pretexts, including task completion, score enhancement, and tax payments. However, when he repeatedly asked for his money, the fraudsters started making excuses, claiming he had deposited the tax amount in the wrong account and demanding more money. Realizing he had been duped, he approached the cyber police.

Based on his complaint, the North Regional Cyber Cell registered a case against three unidentified fraudsters under the IT Act and fraud charges. Senior officials have taken serious note of the case and directed an in-depth investigation.

The police are now tracing the bank accounts where the defrauded money was transferred. Authorities have assured that the culprits will soon be arrested, and further investigation is ongoing.