Job scams: How cybercrooks are using WhatsApp to cheat gullible youth

Priyanjan Chaudhary's joy knew no bounds when she received a job offer on WhatsApp. Like many other people, Chaudhary was looking for work during the pandemic. She thought this could be her chance. However, what started as an exciting opportunity quickly turned into a nightmare as she fell victim to a WhatsApp scam.

Chaudhary is not an isolated case. Having billions of users worldwide, WhatsApp has become a prime target for scammers who cheat gullible people.

In particular, job seekers on the app are being targeted by fraudsters posing as recruitment agents for well-known companies. The scammers offer part-time work from home. Initially, they lure victims by giving them simple tasks such as surveys or product testing. Once the victim provides their personal information or bank account details, the scammers steal money or use the information to commit fraud.

Chaudhary received a message from a number offering a job opportunity. After completing some initial tasks, she was directed to a Telegram group. There, she was instructed to invest a significant amount of money to complete further tasks. The scammers demanded more and more money, and eventually, Chaudhary lost over Rs 2,40,000.

But it's not just job seekers who are being targeted. Scammers have invented another idea to loot people. Users receive unsolicited calls from international numbers, purportedly from countries such as Ethiopia (+251), Malaysia (+60), Indonesia (+62), Kenya (+254), and Vietnam (+84). The scammers try to obtain personal information or steal money from the victim, making it important for users to ignore or block unknown international calls.

Young professionals scammed in WhatsApp job scam

Recently two such cases were reported in Cyberabad where young professionals were cheated of huge money by fraudsters posing as representatives of established companies.

In the first case, Battu Janardhan, a mechanical engineer, was offered a part-time job by a WhatsApp user claiming to represent RVR Digital Media Pvt Ltd. He was then directed to a Telegram platform, where he was assisted by a receptionist and a tutor who provided him with tasks and instructions. Janardhan made payments through a website and was eventually scammed out of Rs. 11,35,000/-.

In the second case, Shanmukha Srinivas Sajja, a resident of Gachibowli, was offered a part-time job by a person claiming to represent Oracle (INDIA) Communications on WhatsApp. He was then directed to a Telegram platform and assigned a tutor who provided him with tasks and instructions. Sajja made payments through a website and was scammed out of Rs. 12,33,300/-.

Both victims filed complaints with the Cyberabad police, who registered cases and handed them over to Inspector D. Ashish Reddy for further investigation. Police conducted raids in various locations of the city and detained five suspects for questioning. One of the suspects Mohammed Salman is currently absconding.

Police urged citizens to be cautious while engaging in online transactions and not to trust any unsolicited job offers. These cases serve as a warning to the public to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of any job opportunities offered online.

WhatsApp urges users to report suspicious accounts to combat cyber fraud

WhatsApp issued a statement advising users to report suspicious accounts in order to combat the growing wave of cyber fraud incidents that resulted in significant financial losses for victims. International scammers are using advanced technologies to engage in elaborate scams, and law enforcement authorities launched investigations into the matter.

WhatsApp made significant investments in product development, user awareness campaigns, and artificial intelligence to keep its users safe on the platform, and banned over 4.7 million accounts in March 2023 alone.

Advisory based on WhatsApp’s statement:

- Promptly block and report suspicious messages and calls.

- Report unknown international or domestic phone numbers to WhatsApp.

- Use privacy controls to safeguard personal details and online presence.

- Be cautious of investment opportunities, part-time job offers, and cryptocurrency schemes from unknown sources.

- Do not disclose personal or financial information to unknown parties.

- Use two-factor authentication to secure your WhatsApp account.

- Keep software and security systems updated.

- Be wary of unexpected or random calls and messages.

- If victimized, report to the police and seek assistance from banks or financial institutions.

- Regularly check and monitor bank accounts for suspicious transactions.