Make Money Watching YouTube Videos? Beware of This ‘Task Scam’!
In 2023, the frequency of online scams will certainly have increased. In addition to seeing scammers use new methods to trick victims, recently they have been offering small sums of money to unsuspecting victims in a new type of scam called the “assignment scam.” This is similar to job scams that mostly affect. people on Telegram and WhatsApp.
The latest victims of this scam are two techies from Bengaluru who reportedly lost a whopping Rs 95 lakh, according to a report in The Times of India. According to the report, the duo were involved in online jobs that promised them the chance to earn extra income.
Task Scam/Job Scam: How They Work
In this popular scam, scammers posing as representatives of some top companies approach unsuspecting victims with offers that are usually too good to be true. This can include offering unrealistic returns on investments or asking them to perform simple tasks such as liking and watching YouTube videos, filling out forms and sometimes writing reviews on Google and other platforms.
Usually they contact users through WhatsApp or Telegram and try to get users to join their company by offering them work from home jobs.
After completing one or two tasks, scammers end up paying the “worker”, but only to earn trust. After investing and putting in a significant amount of work, victims are told that they can increase their winnings if they invest more or make a deposit.
Now that he has invested a substantial amount and asked for the promised “huge” return on his investment, victims are told they need to invest even more. This is how the cycle continues. Often the victims realize they have been scammed too late, as the scammers usually disappear at that point.
How to stay safe
First of all, always remember that no sane person will pay you substantial money for liking videos or completing simple tasks. It’s not realistic. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Also, if these scammers approach you regardless of the platform, always block them and report them to the authorities. Also, never share your identity like Aadhar numbers with them as they can use your identity for other scams.
Also, don’t click on links, download random apps, and always check with the official company the person claims to represent if such a job is available.
And of course, tell your friends and family about the scam whenever you get a chance to spread awareness.
