Woman falls prey to ‘Play Games, Win Money’ trap

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

Advertisements promising ‘Earn money from home… Play games and win cash…’ along with attractive links and social media offers are tightening the grip of online gaming platforms. Shockingly, not only youth but also women are increasingly falling prey to such schemes and losing large sums of money.

In one such incident, a 35-year-old woman from the city lost nearly ₹4 lakh while playing online games. The financial loss severely affected her mental health, leading to her admission to the psychiatric department of the District Hospital.

Belonging to a modest financial background, the woman initially began playing online games by staking small amounts of ₹400 to ₹500. As she started receiving double returns in the beginning, her involvement deepened and the amounts she invested gradually increased. However, she eventually lost ₹4 lakh in a single phase of gaming.

Following the loss, her mental condition deteriorated. She stopped speaking and reportedly began having suicidal thoughts. Alarmed by her condition, her family admitted her to the District Hospital, where she underwent psychiatric treatment for 10 days. After her condition stabilised, she was recently discharged.

Under the guidance of District Civil Surgeon Dr Kamalakar Mudkhedkar, a team comprising psychiatrists Dr Jitendra Dongre, Dr Jagdish Tekale, Dr Gajanan Kable, Tejaswini Tupsagar, and Mahesh Markad treated her.

4 to 5 women seek treatment every month

Dr Dongre said, “ Four to five women every month seek treatment after suffering mental distress due to financial losses in online gaming and share market trading. In the beginning, when people receive quick returns, they get drawn into it. Gradually, they become addicted. The increasing involvement of women in such activities is a matter of concern.”