Representative Image. Credit: The New Indian Express
Bengaluru man duped of ₹20.8 lakh in job scam using PIMCO’s name
Bengaluru
A 43-year-old Bengaluru resident has alleged that he was cheated of ₹20,80,708.74 in an elaborate online job scam in which fraudsters posed as representatives of global investment giant Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) and lured him through Telegram with promises of part-time employment.
East CEN police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on February 20 and launched an investigation.
Harish, the complainant, said he was first contacted on January 11, 2026, by individuals claiming to offer flexible part-time work. The accused allegedly shared what they described as PIMCO’s office address and location details, convincing him of their authenticity. Trusting the brand’s global reputation, he agreed to undertake “tasks” assigned through Telegram groups.
The fraudsters directed him to conduct transactions using the CheQ app and instructed him to create an account on a platform called “Crypto Globe,” assuring him that profits could be withdrawn seamlessly. Initially, he was led to believe that withdrawals were possible. However, he later found that his account was frozen and conditions for withdrawal were repeatedly altered.
Suspecting foul play, Harish emailed PIMCO and personally visited the address provided to him. He discovered that no such PIMCO office existed at the location. Representatives of the company reportedly informed him that the individuals were not associated with PIMCO in any capacity.
The complaint revealed that the accused operated through Telegram links, including:
Credit cards and bank accounts used
According to the complaint, multiple credit cards were used for merchant transactions, including cards issued by SBI, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and YES Bank.
In addition, the complainant was allegedly instructed to route funds through personal bank accounts before transferring them via NEFT and UPI to third-party accounts. The bank accounts cited in the complaint include those with HDFC Bank, SBI, and Axis Bank.
Harish stated that the total amount siphoned off through credit card transactions and bank transfers amounts to ₹20.8 lakh.
No direct contact, only digital footprints
The accused reportedly did not share mobile numbers, operating exclusively through Telegram. The complainant has urged authorities to trace the culprits using IP address tracking and digital transaction trails.
Following advice from credit card department officials, Harish approached cybercrime authorities and sought immediate intervention for fund recovery and identification of those responsible.
The case underscores a growing trend in which fraudsters exploit the names of reputed financial institutions to orchestrate high-value digital scams, leveraging encrypted messaging platforms and cryptocurrency-linked payment gateways to evade detection.
Cybercrime officials are examining transaction logs, banking trails, and Telegram-linked digital footprints as part of the investigation.