Fri, Jul 25, 2025
Whatsapp

Centre blocks 100 websites involved in task-based part-time job frauds

Reported by:  PTC News Desk  Edited by:  Shgun S -- December 06th 2023 12:48 PM
Centre blocks 100 websites involved in task-based part-time job frauds

Centre blocks 100 websites involved in task-based part-time job frauds

PTC News Desk: The Central Government blocked 100 websites run by foreign actors on suspicion of being involved in organized investment and task-based part-time job fraud.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) blocked these websites after the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) wing of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) identified and recommended over 100 websites involved in organized investment and task-based part-time job frauds last week through its vertical National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit (NCTAU).


"MeitY, invoking its power under the Information Technology Act, 2000, has blocked these websites," the MHA said. "These websites, which facilitated task-based and organized illegal investment-related economic crimes, were learnt to being operated by overseas actors and they were using digital advertisement, chat messengers and mule or rented accounts," it added.

"It was also learnt that proceeds from the large-scale economic frauds were seen to be laundered out of India using card networks, cryptocurrency, overseas ATM withdrawals and international Fintech companies. In this regard, several complaints were received through the 1930 helpline and NCRP and these offences were posing a significant threat to the citizens and also involved data security concerns," the Ministry said.

These frauds often include procedures such as targeted digital advertisements posted on platforms such as Google and Meta with keywords such as "Ghar baithe job" and "Ghar baithe kamayi kaise karen" in several languages from overseas advertisers.

"Targets are mostly retired employees, women and unemployed youth looking for part-time jobs."

According to the Ministry, after clicking the advertising, an agent using WhatsApp and Telegram initiates a discussion with the potential victim, persuading her to complete activities such as video likes, subscriptions, and map rating.

"Upon completion of the task, the victim is given some commission, initially and is asked to invest more to get more returns against the given task. After gaining confidence, when the victim deposits a larger sum, deposits are frozen and thus victim is duped," the Ministry added.

As a precaution, the MHA advises exercising caution before engaging in any such very high commission-paying online programs promoted via the Internet.

"If an unknown person contacts you over WhatsApp and Telegram, refrain from performing financial transactions without verification. Verify the name of the receiver mentioned in the UPI App. If the receiver is any random person, it may be a mule account and the scheme may be fraudulent. Similarly, check the source from where an initial commission is received."

"Citizens should refrain from doing transactions with unknown accounts, as these could be involved in money laundering and even terror financing and lead to blocking of accounts by police and other legal action."

- ANI

Top News view more...

Latest News view more...

PTC NETWORK
PTC NETWORK      
Notification Hub
Icon