J&K Police warn public against rising online task scams

Srinagar, Jul 7: Jammu and Kashmir Police has cautioned the public against falling victim to online task scams, warning that fraudsters often use small initial payments to gain the confidence of unsuspecting victims before cheating them of larger sums.
In a cyber safety advisory shared on its official social media handle, the police said, “The first payment isn’t your profit. It’s the beginning of the scam.”
According to the advisory, such scams typically begin by asking people to like products, rate websites or complete simple online tasks in exchange for money. To build trust, fraudsters may initially allow victims to withdraw a small amount before persuading them to invest or deposit larger sums, which are eventually lost.
J&K Police urged people to remain vigilant and avoid engaging with unknown individuals or platforms promising quick and easy earnings through online tasks. The department also advised the public to verify the authenticity of such offers and immediately report suspicious activities to the concerned authorities.
The advisory forms part of the police’s ongoing campaign to spread awareness about cyber fraud and protect people from emerging online financial scams. [KNT]