In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, a new work culture emerged: Work From Home (WFH).
While this concept has existed for years, it gained significant traction and acceptance over the past four years.
Many people welcomed the flexibility and convenience it offered. Unfortunately, this shift also created a prime opportunity for scammers to exploit unsuspecting individuals seeking legitimate work-from-home jobs.
From small towns to bustling cities, scams proliferated at an alarming rate. A recent case in Maharashtra highlights the severity of this issue: a Doctor pursuing MD fell victim to a Telegram job scam, losing a staggering ₹2.5 lakh.
But how do these scams operate, and what makes them so effective? Let’s delve into the details.
Modus Operandi of Scammers Exploiting Work From Home Opportunities
Many of you have received a message on WhatsApp or Telegram from an Unknown Number offering you to Work From Home. Such offers generally come with an attractive salary and minimal working hours.
Others might have seen ads on Facebook or Instagram as well.
Individuals eager for such offers often respond quickly, which is precisely where scammers initiate their scams.
Scammers ask for a small amount of money like ₹100 to ₹1000 and ask you to complete some simple tasks like a Video, Subscribe to a Channel, Watch Videos, etc.
For this, they provide you with some links that redirect you to some Unknown Platforms. Those platforms are generally fake, and amount displayed on those platforms is generally controlled by scammers themselves.
They too provide you with a return on this in the range of 30% to 100%. Attractive enough for anyone, isn’t it?
Now, on completing every task they keep asking to add more funds. Also, they provide you with high returns after every task to gain your trust in their scheme.
Later they add the victim to Telegram or another premium group. There they ask to complete subscription-based tasks. Sometimes, the scammer introduces a cryptocurrency platform displaying high returns.
Most of the victims, see it as an opportunity and end up adding huge sums of money with the expectation of earning high returns.
Once the victim is deeply invested in their fake schemes, the overall model of investment and returns take a steep turn
Giving irrelevant reasons for penalty or credit score, the scammer blocks the amount. Now to unblock the same, the scammer asks the victim to add more funds to unblock the initial fund.
Just to get the amount back, victims keep on adding more funds until till the time they realize that they had been scammed.
How to Report Such Scams?
Such online frauds and scams are being reported to Cyber Crime. Learn the steps on how to file a cyber crime complaint.
Here the important point is to submit all the relevant proofs, bank transaction details, and other messages or call proofs handy and submit them along with the complaint document.
Cyber Police on validation, freeze the scammer accounts and other accounts linked with the same that might help you in getting recovery of your losses.
But again such actions must be taken without delay. The longer the time to report, the lesser the chance to recover losses.
Cases like these and other online scams are increasing at a faster pace. However, with a little awareness and analysis, the red flags can protect you from falling into such traps.
How to Identify Work-From-Home Scams?
Every call and message gives us clue that helps in differentiating genuine and fake services. It only requires a little attention to details that can help in protecting you from losing hard-earned money.
Here are some of the tips to identify such scams.
- Get an alert if someone asks for personal information or any payment.
- Avoid making payments to anyone claiming high returns and profits.
- Don’t register for jobs having vague job descriptions.
- Last but not least, stay informed and avoid clicking on Unknown links.
As the work-from-home culture continues to grow, it’s crucial to remain vigilant against scams that prey on the hopes and dreams of job seekers.
By being informed and cautious, individuals can protect themselves from falling victim to these fraudulent schemes. Always research opportunities thoroughly and trust your instincts; if something feels off, it’s best to walk away.
