Kolkata: A resident of Jyangra in Rajarhat was allegedly duped of Rs 13.6 lakh in less than a week in an online work-from-home scam that promised earnings through hotel reservations for a travel portal.According to the complaint, the victim was added to a Telegram group, where he was offered returns for making hotel bookings as part of an “investment” scheme. Initially, he received small payouts, which convinced him of the scheme’s authenticity. The fraudsters then asked him to make repeated payments for “luxury reservation” upgrades, security deposits, and tax clearances. Each time he attempted to withdraw his earnings, he was told to deposit more.
In total, the complainant transferred Rs 13,60,722 before realising he was cheated. Cops have started a probe. tnn
