📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Kerala Police
Crime
Over 100 Victims Lose ₹1.25 Crore in Kerala ‘Read e‑Books, Earn Money’ App Scam
✍️ Business Today
🗓 30 Aug 2026, 12:18 PM
👁 3
More than a hundred users in Kerala reported losing a combined ₹1.25 crore after being duped by a fraudulent mobile app that promised earnings for reading e‑books.
A wave of complaints has surfaced from Kerala after an alleged mobile application advertised as a platform where users could earn money by reading electronic books turned out to be a scam. Over 100 individuals have collectively reported a loss of approximately ₹1.25 crore, according to local authorities.
The app, marketed through social media and messaging groups, claimed that users would receive a fixed payment for each page or chapter they read. Victims were asked to register, pay a nominal subscription fee, and then wait for the promised payouts, which never materialised. Many users, enticed by the prospect of easy income, transferred money into accounts linked to the app’s operators.
Kerala police have opened a cyber‑crime investigation, registering FIRs against the unidentified promoters of the scheme. Officials have urged the public to exercise caution when dealing with apps that guarantee monetary returns for minimal effort and to verify the legitimacy of such platforms before making any payments.
The incident adds to a growing list of digital frauds targeting smartphone users across India, where scammers exploit the popularity of gig‑economy narratives to extract funds. Authorities continue to monitor similar schemes and advise citizens to report suspicious applications promptly.
The app, marketed through social media and messaging groups, claimed that users would receive a fixed payment for each page or chapter they read. Victims were asked to register, pay a nominal subscription fee, and then wait for the promised payouts, which never materialised. Many users, enticed by the prospect of easy income, transferred money into accounts linked to the app’s operators.
Kerala police have opened a cyber‑crime investigation, registering FIRs against the unidentified promoters of the scheme. Officials have urged the public to exercise caution when dealing with apps that guarantee monetary returns for minimal effort and to verify the legitimacy of such platforms before making any payments.
The incident adds to a growing list of digital frauds targeting smartphone users across India, where scammers exploit the popularity of gig‑economy narratives to extract funds. Authorities continue to monitor similar schemes and advise citizens to report suspicious applications promptly.