My name is salina rana , and I never thought I’d be writing this. My child and I are stranded in India after being caught in an online Telegram scam that took everything we had.

It began when I received a message on Telegram offering small “tasks” that paid money. The jobs looked simple and harmless — like rating products, liking pages, or completing small steps. At first, they even sent small payments to make it look real. I truly believed it was a genuine online job that could help me earn something honest for my child.

Then they said I needed to “upgrade” or “finish the last task” to withdraw my full earnings. Each time, they told me to send more money — small amounts at first, then larger ones — promising that I would get everything back with profit. I trusted them. I followed every instruction.

But every time I paid, there was another “final task.”

And when I couldn’t pay anymore, they said my account was “frozen” and that I’d lose everything unless I sent more. That’s when I realized the truth — it was all a lie.

They didn’t block me. They kept talking, pretending to help, trying to squeeze every last bit of hope and money from me.

Now my child and I are stranded here with nothing left. I have no savings, no family nearby, and no safe place to go. There are days when I can’t afford a proper meal for my child. Nights when I sit awake, wondering how to keep us safe and alive.

This online social scam has destroyed everything — but I still have to stay strong for my child. I still believe that there are kind people in this world who can help us survive this dark time.

I have reported the scam to the cybercrime police and kept every message, screenshot, and transaction as proof. I want to be transparent — every donation will go directly toward survival and rebuilding our lives.