A simple job where you can earn a lot of money quickly and easily? It’s precisely these types of offers that attract criminals on WhatsApp, Telegram and Co. We’ll tell you what you should pay attention to when you receive such job offers and how you can recognize fraud.
Many people probably dream of this constellation: earning a lot of money quickly with as little work as possible. But that’s exactly what fraudsters are currently taking advantage of on WhatsApp, Telegram and Co. as the Lower Saxony Consumer Center warns.
Accordingly, those affected will be contacted via WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, iMessage or SMS. You will be offered a simple remote job with good pay. But these job offers are mostly scams, we will explain to you what you should do in such a case.
Fraud: Job offers via messenger are often fake
As the Lower Saxony Consumer Center reports, the fraudsters are primarily interested in stealing sensitive data from their victims. The consumer advice center describes an example in which a consumer was contacted via Telegram.
A stranger asked her if she was interested in a remote job. Her query as to where she got her number remained unanswered. Instead, she received the photo from a job posting. It’s about evaluating hotels on a booking platform.
If the consumer had accepted this, the fraudsters would have easily had access to her personal data. Because that’s what the criminals are after – and their victims’ money.
This is how the supposed job goes
According to the consumer advice center, those affected usually have to register in a portal. Here they should initially simply solve tasks; over time they should become more demanding so that they can earn more.
Those affected should then pay in money themselves later. In this way, sales and earnings could be increased, as they are led to believe. According to the consumer advice center, it even happens that the money is initially refunded. Because the supposed employees “should feel safe – and invest even more money”.
What can you do if you suspect job offer fraud?
It’s best not to respond to fraudulent job offers at all. You can simply block the number that contacted you on your smartphone. However, you should be careful not to click on links in the messages or open or save attachments.
If you have already disclosed sensitive data, such as your ID or social security card or your payment information, you should have important documents blocked as a precaution.
For most cards, such as Girocard, credit cards, your ID card or even SIM cards, you can use the number 116116. You can use this number to have your cards blocked quickly and around the clock
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The article Fraud: Be careful with job offers via WhatsApp, Telegram and Co. by Maria Gramsch first appeared on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
As a Tech Industry expert, I would advise extreme caution when receiving job offers via messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, or other similar platforms. These types of offers are often associated with fraudulent activities, such as phishing scams, identity theft, or job scams.
It is essential to remember that legitimate companies typically do not recruit employees through messaging apps. They usually use official job portals, company websites, or professional networking platforms to advertise job openings and communicate with potential candidates. If you receive a job offer through a messaging app, especially if it seems too good to be true or requires personal information upfront, it is crucial to verify the legitimacy of the offer before proceeding.
To protect yourself from potential fraud, always research the company offering the job, verify the legitimacy of the job posting, and never provide sensitive personal information or payment details without confirming the authenticity of the offer. Additionally, be wary of any requests for upfront payments or suspicious requests for personal information, as these are common tactics used by scammers to deceive unsuspecting individuals.
Overall, it is essential to exercise caution and skepticism when receiving job offers via messaging apps and to take proactive steps to protect yourself from potential fraud. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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