A Pakistani citizen has lodged a formal complaint with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing in Lahore after becoming a victim of an elaborate online crypto scam.
The scam, which led to a loss of Rs4.12 million, unfolded through WhatsApp and Telegram, where the fraudsters posed as HR representatives from a company called “Global HR.”
The victim shared that the scam started when he was contacted by individuals claiming to be from Upwork’s HR department. They initially asked him to complete simple tasks, such as voting on links and reviewing locations on Google Maps, for which he received small payments through his JazzCash account, making the scheme seem legitimate.
However, as the scam progressed, the fraudsters directed him to join a Telegram group and participate in more complex tasks under the guise of “Merchant Assignments.”
The victim was instructed to create an account on the fraudulent website Merchantbest.vip and invest in cryptocurrency.
Initially, small refunds were issued to encourage further investments. Eventually, the victim was manipulated into transferring larger sums of money, totaling over Rs4.12 million, with the promise of doubling his returns.
Despite several attempts to withdraw his funds, the fraudsters assigned him additional tasks, trapping him in a cycle of fraudulent demands. When he resisted, they resorted to emotional manipulation and cyberbullying to pressure him into making more payments.
In his complaint, the victim provided the FIA with key details, including the bank account information used by the fraudsters, one of which belonged to United Bank Limited.
The victim urged the FIA to take swift action to investigate the scam, track the perpetrators, and recover his lost funds. He also hopes that by sharing his story, others will be warned about the growing threat of online financial fraud in Pakistan.
The incident serves as a reminder to remain cautious when engaging with unknown entities online and to report suspicious activities to the authorities.