Work-from-home scams: Know how to protect yourself from falling prey to fraud

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a sudden need for remote work or work from home.

However, it also created an opportunity for scamsters to defraud people by tricking them into believing that they can earn money by subscribing to YouTube channels, rating movies, or completing other simple tasks

These scams often start with a message on WhatsApp or social media where the scammer identifies themselves as a manager or HR representative of a well-known company.

They offer a part-time job that requires the victim to subscribe to a YouTube channel to get a commission.

In one recent case in Karnataka, a woman lost more than Rs 8 lakh after falling for a work-from-home opportunity.

The scammer contacted her on WhatsApp and shared more details about the opportunity, including the fact that she could earn money by subscribing to a YouTube channel.

The victim subscribed to two YouTube channels and was later asked to share her other social media accounts to get more tasks and earn more profit.

To build trust, scammers often pay victims for their work and add them to other social media groups that look like the original company's groups.

They also ask victims to download an application through a link they provide. Victims unknowingly give scammers access to their personal information and bank details by providing OTPs and other sensitive information. As a result, they lose their money and become victims of the scam.

Avoid to falling in this Scam:

To avoid falling for work-from-home scams, it is important to be cautious and not trust anyone blindly.

If you receive an offer that seems too good to be true, do not respond or install any applications that the scammer recommends.

Even if the application is available on app stores like Play Store or App Store, do not download it. One such application is AnyDesk, which scammers often use to steal personal information and bank details.

People in Gujarat and Gurugram were tricked into watching movies and rating them to make a profit. Unfortunately, they lost a lot of money. One couple lost over Rs 1 crore, and another woman lost about Rs 8 lakh.

These scams follow a similar pattern, starting with a message on social media or WhatsApp, followed by an offer of a work-from-home opportunity in exchange for profit, and ending with a request for personal information or a link to a malicious website.