Assistant Professor from Kondhwa Falls Victim to Online Scam, Loses Rs 20.59 Lakhs

The allure of making quick money through online tasks has once again claimed a victim, as a 42-year-old assistant professor, Sachhidanand Ramdas Satpute, from Kondhwa, found himself cheated out of Rs 20.59 lakhs in a fraudulent online scheme that unfolded between August 2021 and May 2022.

The story begins with Satpute receiving an enticing WhatsApp message offering him a part-time job with Amazon. The message introduced him to a contact person named Rekha Ranjan, along with her mobile number.

Intrigued by the prospect of earning extra income, Satpute contacted Ranjan, who introduced him to her company, FK Mall, allegedly affiliated with Amazon. Ranjan explained that her firm offered commissions for placing orders through their website. 

Enticed by the opportunity, Satpute agreed to participate, and their communication shifted to the Telegram app. To create his profile on Telegram, Satpute initially paid Rs 1,000, but to his surprise, he soon received Rs 1,300 back in his account.

Following instructions from another person named Raju on Telegram, Satpute diligently followed through with various orders, investing Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 for different tasks. In return, he received Rs 3,000 and Rs 6,500, respectively, in his Telegram account.

As Satpute continued to invest, his earnings grew, eventually reaching a staggering Rs 6.75 lakhs. Believing he had made a significant profit, he decided to withdraw the money. However, he was informed by the fraudster that he needed to complete more tasks before withdrawing his earnings. Satpute continued to invest, only to realize later that he had fallen victim to a scam.

In light of the situation, a case has been registered under section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code at the Kondhwa police station, shedding light on the dangers of falling for such online scams.