Online part-time job / task scam on Telegram or WhatsApp — lost money on ‘like videos’, ratings or prepaid tasks? What to do: 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in, FIR (BNS s.318(4), old IPC 420; IT Act s.66D), bank hold and getting money back, mule-account risk, and fake recovery agents (2026)
Plain first-steps guide for anyone who was offered ‘work from home’ tasks — liking YouTube videos, rating hotels or maps, writing reviews, captcha filling — was paid small commissions and then asked to deposit more in ‘prepaid tasks’, and lost money. What to do in the first hours, how to report on 1930 and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, what goes into an FIR, how frozen money is sometimes returned through a court order, why you must not lend your bank account, and how to avoid a second ‘recovery’ scam. Educational only — not legal advice. Adhiwakta does not file complaints or contact police or banks.
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How the task scam works
The Ministry of Home Affairs described the pattern in December 2023 when over 100 such websites were blocked: targeted ads (‘ghar baithe job’, ‘ghar baithe kamai’), then an agent on WhatsApp or Telegram gives simple tasks such as video likes, subscriptions or map ratings, pays a small commission first, and then asks you to ‘invest’ or buy prepaid tasks for higher returns. Once you deposit larger amounts, the balance is shown on a fake dashboard but frozen, and new ‘fees’, ‘taxes’ or ‘penalties for mistakes’ are demanded. Captcha-filling and data-entry ‘jobs’ asking for registration or software fees follow the same idea.
Stop paying — no fee will unlock your money
Once a platform asks you to pay to withdraw, to clear a ‘negative balance’, to pay tax or to upgrade your level, treat it as fraud. Do not send any more money, do not install screen-sharing or ‘work’ apps they suggest, and do not share OTPs, UPI PINs or card details. Leave the groups only after you have taken screenshots.
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Write in Hindi or English · general guidance, not legal advice
Report within hours — 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in
Call the national cyber-fraud helpline 1930 as early as possible, or report on cybercrime.gov.in under ‘Report Cyber Crime → Financial Fraud’. Give every transaction: date, amount, UPI ID / account number of the receiver, UTR / transaction ID and your bank. Note the acknowledgement number. A quick report lets banks try to put a hold (lien) on money still in the receiving accounts — the earlier you report, the better the chance. Also inform your own bank in writing.
Save evidence before it disappears
Screenshot chats, group names and links, Telegram / WhatsApp usernames and numbers, the website or app URL, your ‘task’ dashboard showing deposits, and every payment receipt. Export the chat if possible and keep bank statements. Report the numbers on Sanchar Saathi’s Chakshu facility and the accounts on WhatsApp / Telegram. Do not delete anything, even if you feel embarrassed — the details are what police need to trace mule accounts.
FIR and the offences involved
Ask the cyber police station or local police to register an FIR, especially for larger amounts; many States register cyber FIRs or e-FIRs from the portal complaint. The usual sections are cheating under BNS s.318(4) (old IPC s.420), cheating by personation s.319(2) (old 419), and IT Act s.66D (cheating by personation using a computer resource) and s.66C (identity theft) where relevant. Get a copy of the FIR and follow up with the investigating officer. If police refuse to register, the SP / Magistrate routes apply.
Can the money come back?
Recovery is possible only for the part still traceable and held in bank accounts — often a fraction. Money on hold is generally released to the victim through an order of the Magistrate on an application (provisions on custody and release of property, BNSS ss.497 / 503, old CrPC ss.451 / 457), and in some places through Lok Adalat or court-supervised refund processes. Keep the FIR / complaint number, bank statements and an ID proof ready. Since you yourself authorised these payments, the RBI ‘zero liability’ rules for unauthorised transactions usually do not apply, so do not expect your bank to automatically refund.
Never lend or sell your bank account or SIM
These scams run through ‘mule’ or rented accounts. People who give their account, UPI, SIM or KYC to someone for a commission can face account freezes and be named in cheating and money-laundering investigations. If your account was frozen because scam money came into it, see the guide on bank accounts frozen by cyber police and respond with documents.
Beware the second scam — fake recovery
After a loss, victims are often contacted by fake ‘cyber police officers’, ‘advocates’ or ‘recovery agents’ promising to get the money back for a fee. Government agencies do not charge fees to recover cyber-fraud money, and genuine police contact can be verified with the police station. Verify any advocate’s enrolment with the State Bar Council before sharing papers or paying.
How Adhiwakta can help
We do not file cyber complaints or FIRs, or contact banks, platforms or police. Adhiwakta is a facilitation platform, not a law firm. We do not file cases, appear before any authority, or promise any result. Use Ask Adhiwakta to describe your situation for general guidance from an independent advocate, or start with the AI helper to organise your facts and papers. Educational only — not formal legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is a task scam or part-time job scam?
- Fraudsters offer ‘work from home’ tasks like liking videos or rating places on WhatsApp / Telegram, pay small commissions, then ask you to deposit money for ‘prepaid tasks’ and freeze your balance. MHA blocked 100+ such websites in December 2023.
- Where do I complain about a Telegram task scam?
- Call 1930 immediately or report on cybercrime.gov.in under financial fraud, with every UTR / transaction ID and receiver UPI or account. Also inform your bank and ask the cyber police for an FIR.
- Will I get my money back?
- Only money still traceable in bank accounts can be held, and it is usually released through a Magistrate’s order on an application with the FIR / complaint number. There is no guarantee; reporting within hours improves the chance.
- They are asking me to pay tax or a fee to withdraw. Should I pay?
- No. Any demand to pay to unlock a withdrawal, clear a ‘negative balance’ or upgrade a level is part of the fraud. Stop paying and report.
- Which sections apply to an online job fraud?
- Usually cheating under BNS s.318(4) (old IPC 420), cheating by personation s.319(2) (old 419), and IT Act s.66D and s.66C where relevant.
- Someone called saying they can recover my money for a fee. Is it genuine?
- Very likely another scam. Government agencies do not charge fees to recover cyber-fraud money. Verify any police contact with the police station and any advocate’s enrolment with the State Bar Council.
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