Trichy man loses Rs11L to online fraud

Trichy: An employee of a private company in Trichy has lost Rs10.9 lakh to an online fraudster who posed as a recruiter offering part-time Google reviewer job through WhatsApp.Police said A Amanullah, 31, from Ariyamangalam and working in a health care firm, was searching for part-time work when he received a message on Mar 13 from an unknown number. The sender offered him a job reviewing Google Maps links and promised Rs180 per day.Later, the same person shared a link to create a ‘salary code' via Telegram. The fraudster claimed that investors could earn handsome returns if they invested online. Trusting the offer, Amanullah made multiple payments between Mar 14 and Mar 21. Although the platform showed profits, no actual money was credited to his account. Amanullah later realised it was a fake website interface.When he tried contacting the fraudster, there was no response. Realising he had been cheated, he lodged a complaint with Trichy city cybercrime police on Friday.A case was registered under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 66(D) and 84(B) of Information Technology (Amendment) Act 2008, and investigation is in progress.