Getting a part-time job to earn extra money is something that a lot of people are interested in. After all, who doesn't love a little extra cash? And this is the trend that scammers have been exploiting for the past two months. Under the guise of offering people part-time jobs, many scammers actually take away their hard-earned money. In most cases, to gain the trust of their victims, scammers deposit money into their accounts and then lure them with promises of larger profits. This is exactly what happened to a software professional working in Manguluru who clicked on an Instagram ad to get a part-time job. Here's exactly what happened and how you can stay safe from such incidents.
A woman clicks on the Instagram ad and loses money
According to an article in The Hindu, the victim filed a complaint with Kankanady police and said he had seen an Instagram ad promising a prize. "You can win," the ad says, and the woman, trying to make more money, texted the WhatsApp number listed in the ad saying, "I'm interested." The number mentioned in the ad is 9899183689. The woman was then asked to connect with @khannika9912 on Telegram.
The woman then downloaded the app and spoke to the aforementioned person, who promised her a 30% return on investment. The victim then sent Rs 7,000 to UPI ID via Google Pay. Soon after, as promised, she received Rs 9,100 in her account. As a result, she began to trust the scammer and was asked to invest a larger sum of money. The woman then transferred Rs 20,000 to the same UPI ID. However, he was informed that the account was locked and the funds were not received. The woman then transferred another Rs 10,50,525. The woman then realized she had been tricked and turned herself into the police.
How to stay safe from such scams
There are a few things people can keep in mind to stay safe from such scams. First of all, you're better off applying for part-time jobs through genuine job-specific portals like LinkedIn, Naukri.com, Indeed, etc. However, if you must apply for a job through other means, thoroughly vet the job offer and verify its legitimacy. Ask them for details like their name, company name, etc. A simple Google search can sometimes help you determine if a company offering the job exists.
Also, be very careful before filling in your personal information like name, phone number, etc., and ensure that this information is entered only on trusted websites. Finally, never transfer money to a stranger's bank account, and never share your bank details with anyone. Reputable companies will never ask you to pay to give you a job.
