How to Report a Telegram Task Scam (Prepaid Scam)

Last reviewed: October 4, 2026 Reviewed by: CyberShield India Editorial Team

The "Telegram Task Scam" (also known as the Prepaid Task Scam or Part-Time Job Scam) is currently one of the most widespread frauds in India. Victims are initially paid small amounts of money for doing trivial tasks (like liking YouTube videos or giving Google Reviews) before being tricked into transferring lakhs of rupees for "premium tasks."

If you have fallen victim to this, you are not alone. Here is exactly what you need to do.

How the Telegram Task Scam Works

1. The Bait: You receive a WhatsApp message from a "recruiter" offering a part-time job that requires working 1-2 hours a day from home.
2. The Trust Building: They ask you to like 3 YouTube videos and send screenshots. Once you do, they actually pay you ₹150 to ₹500 via UPI.
3. The Telegram Group: You are moved to a Telegram group with a "Receptionist" or "Task Manager". The group is filled with bots posting screenshots of massive profits.
4. The Prepaid Task: After a few free tasks, you are told you must participate in a "Prepaid Merchant Task" to continue. You are asked to deposit ₹1,000 to get a 30% return. You do it, and they pay you back ₹1,300.
5. The Trap: The amounts increase. ₹10,000, then ₹50,000, then ₹2,00,000. Suddenly, they claim you made a "mistake" in the task, or your "credit score dropped".
6. The Blackmail: They refuse to let you withdraw your money unless you pay a "penalty fee" or "taxes". Eventually, they block you.

Immediate Steps to Report the Scam

1. Stop Paying Immediately

The golden rule: Do not pay a single rupee more. They will threaten you, say your account will be frozen, or promise that one last payment will release your funds. It is all a lie.

2. Take Screenshots

Before they delete the chat history from both sides (a feature on Telegram), take screenshots of:

• The Telegram chat with the "Manager" or "Receptionist".
• The UPI IDs or bank accounts they asked you to send money to.
• The fake crypto or merchant website dashboard they gave you access to.

3. File a Complaint via 1930

Call the National Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 immediately. Give them the UTR numbers of the payments you made. Because this scam relies on mule accounts, freezing those accounts quickly is your best chance of recovering the funds.

📝 Prepare Your Written Complaint

You must submit a formal written complaint to the Police and the Nodal Officer of your bank.

Create a structured cyber-fraud complaint draft from your information (Free Tool)

Use our utility to instantly format all your UTR numbers and transaction details into a professional PDF that you can attach to your FIR.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my money back from a Telegram scam? Yes, but only if you report it quickly. If the funds are still sitting in the scammer's destination bank account, the police can place a lien (freeze) on it and order a reversal via court order.

Can a hacker recover my money? No. Anyone on Instagram, Twitter, or Quora claiming they can "hack the scammer" and recover your funds for a fee is a recovery scammer. Only the official banking system and police can reverse transactions.