Bengaluru Couple Falls Victim to Job Scam via WhatsApp

A couple from Bengaluru fell victim to a sophisticated job scam via WhatsApp, losing over ₹2.1 lakh. The scam involved fake job offers from the Army Public School, leading to a series of fraudulent transactions. After realizing the deception, they reported the incident to the police and contacted their bank for assistance. This incident highlights the growing concern of cyber fraud targeting job seekers. Read on to learn more about their experience and the steps taken by authorities.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 11, 2026, 22:31 IST

Job Scam Targeting Bengaluru Residents

In Bandipalya, Bengaluru, a woman named Harini (name changed) received a message in a WhatsApp group that included trainers from across the country, often sharing job opportunities. One day, a message announced that the Army Public School (APS) in Bengaluru was looking for a trainer for discipline and communication skills, along with a contact number.

Excited, Harini called the provided number. The person on the other end claimed to be an administrative staff member from APS. He explained the job requirements and discussed a fee of ₹5,000 per hour for two hours of work, promising that the school head would contact her soon. Harini perceived this as a golden opportunity.

Shortly after, she received a WhatsApp voice call from another number. The caller claimed to be speaking from the APS campus on MG Road, complimenting Harini's profile and stating that the school wanted to hire her services. However, he mentioned a 'protocol' that required her to register as a vendor due to the military nature of the institution. Trusting him, Harini shared her Aadhaar number.

The scammer then explained the next step involving digital payment registration. He instructed Harini to link her UPI ID and complete an OTP process. Following his instructions, she entered her PIN along with the OTP, only to find ₹26,000 withdrawn from her account within seconds.

When Harini protested, the scammer kept her on the line, sending a fake military ID to gain her trust and repeatedly invoking patriotism with phrases like 'Jai Hind' and 'Jai Indian Army.' This convinced Harini to provide an alternative phone number, which was her husband Dinesh's. The scammers then used the same tactics on Dinesh, exploiting his patriotic sentiments and managing to withdraw approximately ₹1.9 lakh from their accounts through four transactions.

In just one hour, the couple lost over ₹2.1 lakh. Shocked, Dinesh filed a complaint with the Bandipalya police on Friday. They also contacted their bank and the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930). The police registered a case under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and initiated efforts to freeze the scammers' accounts.