The job market has been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons. A new type of electronic scam has emerged on instant messaging apps, particularly WhatsApp, wherein fake job offers are being circulated among unsuspecting candidates. These offers deceive job seekers with promise of unusually high returns. Many people fall prey to these offers and end up losing money and even important personal information. According to artificial intelligence (AI) firm CloudSEK, fraudulent job offers on WhatsApp has already squeezed out €100 million from thousands of people all over the world.
The modus operandi of the scammers is pretty simple. They send part-time job offers to random people over WhatsApp. The job usually involves liking YouTube videos. In the beginning the victims are paid a small amount to build trust. Later, money and personal data are siphoned from their bank accounts. The WhatsApp numbers are often routed through international servers and it's almost impossible to track them.
How it works
The scam, in most cases, begins with a message where the sender claims to be a representative of a company that's urgently hiring for remote work or work-from-home (WFH) positions. The message is professionally written and offers flexible work hours and great pay. While details like the organization's name and the hiring manager vary, the promise of high pay and remote work are always constant. The messages are randomly sent in bulk to target the largest number of job seekers urgently looking for work.
Once a person responds, the scammers make their next move. They ask the victim whether they want more information about the job. A generic job description like 'boosting online exposure' or 'optimizing data' is usually given. The fraudsters pose as recruiters and are always eager to share more details about the amazing job opportunity. They provide login details to a fake dashboard or portal for a training session. The dashboard tracks the completed task each day and the money accumulated in the victim's account. Soon, the scammers ask the victim to set up a cryptocurrency account, linked to the person's bank account. The moment the link is set up, money is withdrawn from the bank account.
How to avoid being scammed
To protect yourself from WhatsApp job scams, it's important to take some precautions. Here's what you should do:
1. Research the company
Research about the company offering the job. Check official websites and social media platforms. Contact the company directly to verify whether the offer is true. Look for testimonials and reviews from current and former employees of the company to gain more insight.
2. Never provide personal information
Never disclose any personal or financial information to the sender, unless you're absolutely sure about the legitimacy of the offer. Legitimate employees never ask about bank accounts, debit cards, or copies of identification papers before making a formal job offer.
3. Be cautious
Always be cautious of unsolicited job offers. If you get an offer out of the blue, particularly from someone you haven't interacted with before. Better ignore it. Ask yourself, why would they contact you and that too through WhatsApp? Legitimate employers usually reach out to candidates through emails and over phone.
Be careful of the information you share on social media channels. Scammers often collect personal information from public profiles to customize their scams and make them more convincing. Limit the amount of information you share on the internet, especially when it comes to job search.
Lastly, trust your instincts. Remember that if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t.
