Surat:In yet another alarming case of online job fraud, cyber criminals have duped a pharma company executive from Palanpur of Rs 9.21 lakh through a Telegram-based work-from-home scam that promised hefty daily returns for completing simple online tasks. The fraudsters used fake wallet apps and profit dashboards to trap the victim into making multiple transactions over a month. According to police officials, Jignesh Patel (28), employed in a pharmaceutical firm, was contacted by an unidentified user on Telegram, offering him a chance to earn between ₹5,000 and ₹20,000 per day from the comfort of his home. The scamsters persuaded him to download a digital wallet app to receive payments and monitor earnings. Believing the offer to be genuine, Patel began transferring money into the account provided by the fraudsters. Between August 6 and September 1, he made 18 separate transfers amounting to ₹9.23 lakh. However, despite repeated assurances of high returns, he could withdraw only ₹1,300 from the account. When he questioned the delay, the fraudsters continued making excuses before eventually cutting off contact. Realizing he had been cheated, Patel approached the Surat Cybercrime Police Station and filed a complaint. The police registered an FIR on October 16 against unknown persons under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code related to cheating and cyber fraud. Investigating officers said the fraudsters used sophisticated methods to appear legitimate, often replicating genuine task-based income platforms and using real-time dashboards to gain victims’ trust. They urged citizens to remain cautious and to verify the authenticity of any work-from-home job offers that require advance payments or use unverified digital wallets, reportsThe Times of India. Such Telegram-based work-from-home scams have seen a surge across Gujarat, targeting professionals and young job seekers with promises of quick income that ultimately lead to financial loss.