• Source:JND
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A new variant of danger is now circulating online, with fraudsters preying on unsuspecting job seekers, students, and homemakers alike. The websites use platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram to publicize fake "online tasks" promising easy money that ends up in financial ruin and even worse, in tragic cases.

It all starts with seemingly innocuous message: a small task that pays for liking a YouTube video, leaving a five-star rating, or translating a short paragraph of text. The tasks do not appear to be malicious at first, and many victims even get paid in advance to gain their trust. But the trap soon clamps down.

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Real-Life Tragedy: When a Side Gig Turns Deadly

Among such victims was 25-year-old Sorathia, a Gujarati employee at a private bank. She had joined a Telegram group and was doing simple tasks for modest payment. However, after some days, she was persuaded to invest more money to get "higher-paying" jobs. Her trust proved costly. When the returns never materialized, she was left in debt—Rs 28 lakh in total. Sadly, Sorathia took her own life, leaving a note stating that she had no option.

How These Scams Work

These cons are skillfully designed to appear as legitimate. Scammers tend to:

  • Make use of professionally designed sites and mock dashboards displaying phony earnings
  • Posing as genuine companies or adopting false names to seem authentic
  • Carrying out fictitious interviews or onboarding sessions
  • Persuading victims to pay money upfront to access "premium" jobs
  • Offering referral schemes that resemble pyramid structures
  • Request personal information, risking identity theft

Red Flags to Look Out For

  • Job offers from WhatsApp or Telegram, sans formal emails or contracts
  • Requests for advance payments or "investments" to begin work
  • No valid contact information or company information
  • High returns guaranteed for less effort

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Stay Safe: Tips to Guard Yourself

  • Always double-check job offers through official company websites or trustworthy sources.
  • Never share sensitive info like OTPs, bank account details, or ID proofs over chat.
  • Do not make any kind of upfront payment.
  • Do not be afraid to report suspicious activity to cybercrime.gov.in at once.

This rampant epidemic of scams is a timely reminder to be wary and suspicious of anything that is too good to be true—particularly on the internet side hustle scene.