<p>Bengaluru: In a peculiar case, a homemaker and her two friends lost Rs 3.13 lakh after downloading an “earnings app” that promised returns by trading online groceries and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).</p>.<p>Kamala S (name changed), the 39-year-old victim from Banashankari, told the police that she downloaded the ‘COSTA’ app on December 11, 2024, after coming across an ad for the same on Instagram.</p>.<p>She clicked on the link that showed up on the ad, which directed her to the website costat.site. As per a domain look-up, the website was registered on August 30, 2024.</p>.<p>On the app downloaded from the website were several “investment options” ranging from Rs 570 to Rs 88,000 on groceries like fruits and vegetables and FMCGs like packaged juice products.</p>.Bengaluru Metro fares up 45% on average from Feb 9, maximum price increased to Rs 90.<p>The app showed that based on the investment in a specific package containing different products, the user would earn a daily amount for a set period (from 18 to 50 days). The app also had “bonuses and commissions”, similar to a Ponzi scheme, for referring it to others. </p>.<p>Curious, Kamala chose the FMCG option, where she was asked to buy a package containing ‘Kendtlys juice product’ for Rs 88,000. This would lead her to earn Rs 1,999 daily.</p>.<p>“What the victim didn’t realise was that the earnings showed on the app’s dashboard were bogus to keep them hooked,” said a cybercrime investigator.</p>.<p>Between December 12 and January 11, 2025, Kamala bought several such packages containing groceries and FMCG products and “invested” Rs 3,13,821. She transferred Rs 1,97,185 from her two bank accounts and Rs 69,396 from her friends’ bank accounts. She also transferred to the fake app Rs 47,240 from her daughter’s bank account. </p>.<p>Kamala filed a complaint on February 2 at the South CEN station after realising that she was cheated. Till then, Kamala believed the scam as the app showed her “daily earnings” and realised the con when she couldn’t withdraw as the app kept asking for more purchases, the police said. </p>.<p><strong>Cops caution</strong> </p><p>A senior police officer warned the public to be vigilant about apps that promise daily earnings. “These are being shared on social media platforms without any regulations and are targeted towards homemakers since the so-called investment amounts are lower. Videos are also put up on social media promoting these apps” said the officer from Bengaluru police.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: In a peculiar case, a homemaker and her two friends lost Rs 3.13 lakh after downloading an “earnings app” that promised returns by trading online groceries and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).</p>.<p>Kamala S (name changed), the 39-year-old victim from Banashankari, told the police that she downloaded the ‘COSTA’ app on December 11, 2024, after coming across an ad for the same on Instagram.</p>.<p>She clicked on the link that showed up on the ad, which directed her to the website costat.site. As per a domain look-up, the website was registered on August 30, 2024.</p>.<p>On the app downloaded from the website were several “investment options” ranging from Rs 570 to Rs 88,000 on groceries like fruits and vegetables and FMCGs like packaged juice products.</p>.Bengaluru Metro fares up 45% on average from Feb 9, maximum price increased to Rs 90.<p>The app showed that based on the investment in a specific package containing different products, the user would earn a daily amount for a set period (from 18 to 50 days). The app also had “bonuses and commissions”, similar to a Ponzi scheme, for referring it to others. </p>.<p>Curious, Kamala chose the FMCG option, where she was asked to buy a package containing ‘Kendtlys juice product’ for Rs 88,000. This would lead her to earn Rs 1,999 daily.</p>.<p>“What the victim didn’t realise was that the earnings showed on the app’s dashboard were bogus to keep them hooked,” said a cybercrime investigator.</p>.<p>Between December 12 and January 11, 2025, Kamala bought several such packages containing groceries and FMCG products and “invested” Rs 3,13,821. She transferred Rs 1,97,185 from her two bank accounts and Rs 69,396 from her friends’ bank accounts. She also transferred to the fake app Rs 47,240 from her daughter’s bank account. </p>.<p>Kamala filed a complaint on February 2 at the South CEN station after realising that she was cheated. Till then, Kamala believed the scam as the app showed her “daily earnings” and realised the con when she couldn’t withdraw as the app kept asking for more purchases, the police said. </p>.<p><strong>Cops caution</strong> </p><p>A senior police officer warned the public to be vigilant about apps that promise daily earnings. “These are being shared on social media platforms without any regulations and are targeted towards homemakers since the so-called investment amounts are lower. Videos are also put up on social media promoting these apps” said the officer from Bengaluru police.</p>