Tanzanian Student in Gwalior Allegedly Loses Rs 45,000 in Work-From-Home Cyber Fraud

A 22-year-old Tanzanian student studying in Gwalior allegedly lost about Rs 45,000 to cyber fraud after being promised a work-from-home part-time job. The accused allegedly collected the money in 13 transactions through Paytm UPI, citing registration, file charges and verification fees. When the student asked for her money back after not receiving the job, the accused allegedly blocked her.

The Sirhol police station has registered an e-zero FIR against unidentified accused under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and started an investigation following the complaint.

According to the police, Heriath Justina, who is from Tanzania, is studying at a university in Gwalior on a student visa. She lives with her brother in MK City Township, which falls under the Sirhol police station area.

The student was searching for opportunities to work from home on the internet to help meet her study expenses. During this search, she received a message offering a part-time job on 15 October 2026. The message promised work from home along with the possibility of good earnings.

The student allegedly believed the offer was a genuine employment opportunity and accepted it. After that, the people who contacted her started asking for money, claiming that the payments were needed to complete different stages of the job process.

At different points, the accused allegedly asked her to pay registration charges, file charges and verification fees. The student continued making the payments because she expected to receive the job after completing the process.

Between 15 and 16 October, she transferred about Rs 45,000 through a total of 13 Paytm UPI transactions. The payments were made in separate instalments after the accused gave different reasons for demanding money.

However, even after the entire amount was transferred, the student did not receive the promised work. The money was also not returned. Instead, the accused allegedly began asking her to transfer more money.

The student became suspicious and asked for the amount she had already paid to be returned. The accused allegedly then cut off contact with her and blocked her. After realising that she had allegedly been cheated in the name of a job, the student filed a complaint on the cybercrime helpline 1930.

The Sirhol police are examining the Paytm transactions, the chat history and details of the bank accounts that received the money. The police are also trying to identify the account holders of the accounts into which the money was transferred. The investigation is aimed at tracing the accused through these transaction and account details.

The incident involved a work-from-home job offer and demands for payment at several stages, including registration and verification. The student transferred the money over 13 transactions between 15 and 16 October, but the promised job was not provided, according to the complaint details shared by the police.

The police have advised people to remain alert if money is demanded in advance for an online job in the name of registration, verification or confirming the job. In case of cyber fraud, people should immediately complain by calling 1930 and should also report the matter on the cybercrime portal.