"Read E-books and Earn Money": 100 People in Kerala Swindled Out of ₹1.25 Crore

A case of cyber fraud has emerged in Kerala involving a scheme that lured people with the promise of earning money by reading e-books. Fraudsters swindled over 100 people out of approximately ₹1.25 crore; the police are currently investigating the matter.

In today's digital age, the trend of earning money through online work is growing rapidly. If you receive an offer to earn money online from the comfort of your home, be cautious. Cyber ​​fraudsters are exploiting this trend to target people using novel methods. One such case has come to light in Kerala, where a major online fraud was orchestrated under the guise of earning money by reading e-books.

According to reports, more than 100 people in Kerala have lodged complaints with the cyber police regarding this incident. The victims allege they were ensnared in an online task-based scam; fraudsters promised payment for reading books daily but ultimately swindled them out of approximately ₹1.25 crore.

How did the online fraud scheme begin?

Initially, the fraudsters asked the victims to download an app via a WhatsApp link. Users were assigned the task of reading e-books through the app and promised a payment of ₹25 for every completed book. An application named 'NTL App' was used for this purpose. Users were enrolled in various membership plans, with fees ranging from ₹1,800 to several lakh rupees.

Additionally, they were lured with the promise of extra commissions for recruiting more people. To entice the victims, small payments were made initially; this built trust, prompting people—driven by greed—to invest larger sums of money.

Fake earnings displayed on the app

According to the police, the earnings displayed on the app were merely a virtual balance. Users were told they could withdraw their accumulated funds every Wednesday. Some victims reported that they initially received money, but the transfers gradually stopped. Subsequently, the app also ceased to function, and that was when people realized they had been defrauded.