Using modern technology, many things can be done online with just a few clicks, thanks to the Internet. Online job applications are becoming increasingly popular. However, modern technology also has many downsides.
You may receive many job offers in the form of SMS messages, phone calls, and emails. Do you ever investigate whether they are valid? The answer is no. Oftentimes, fraudsters send fake job offers to job seekers in order to make quick money.
An offer of employment in a foreign country was made to the victim in this case. Some bank accounts were given to the complainant. In order to get the job, the complainant had to make multiple transactions into the bank accounts. However, this did not work out.
A Pune man was duped of Rs 4 lakhs with promises of a job at a UK hotel
A Pune resident was duped out of Rs 4.19 lakh by online fraudsters promising him a job at a hotel in the United Kingdom.
The 46-year-old victim of this case has lodged the first information report (FIR) with the Wanwadi police station.
The complainant received an email in February regarding a vacancy for a manager position at a big hotel in the UK.
Upon receiving the email, the complainant contacted the cellphone number mentioned in the email. During the conversation with the complainant, the person who spoke to him assured him he would be given a job at the hotel in the UK. In addition, the fraudsters asked the complainant to transfer money to a variety of bank accounts for various reasons.
According to the police, the complainant transferred a total of Rs 4.19 lakh through multiple online transactions between February and June 2021, but he never got the job. The complainant approached the police and reported his incident.
Also Check: Fraud Story #159 - man lost 1.67 Lacs to QR code scam
Warning signs of job scams
1. It is a big warning sign of a job scam when a job offer seems too good to be true. A great job is hard to come by. Usually, fraudulent job offers to contact you claiming that they found your resume online.
2. The job description provided in a fake job offer is unclear. There is no clear indication of what you will be doing.
3. The job offer emails sent by fraudsters are poorly written. They lack professionalism when compared to emails sent by legitimate businesses. They will have a lot of spelling errors in them. As reputable companies have professionals who can write well, they do not make silly mistakes.
4. The job offer is fake if you are asked for confidential information such as bank details. It is common for fraudsters to request your bank account information, claiming to be able to set up a direct deposit or transfer funds to your account. By giving out such information, fraudsters can make fraudulent transactions.
5. A fake job usually requires payment for the offer letter. Many of them claim the amount is refundable. However, if you make the payment, you will not receive a refund. You should keep in mind that reputed companies never ask for payments when offering jobs.
6. It is recommended that digital escrow platforms be used for payment. When making an online payment with Escrow, you do not share your financial information with anyone. There is a platform for escrow called Vouch.
How does digital escrow work?
In digital escrow, a third-party account holds the money deposited by the buyer until the seller fulfills the terms of the contract. The escrow company supervises the transacting parties.
What is the role of Digital Escrow in preventing online fraud in India?
Digital escrow services are offered by many companies in India. Among the most trusted is Vouch.
Vouch’s Digital Escrow service is a transparent way for buyers and sellers to build trust and secure a clean transfer of product and payment. Sellers can feel assured that they will be fairly compensated promptly, and buyers will feel confident that their order will be delivered as expected and on schedule. Vouch Digital Escrow keeps you updated and informed at every step of the transaction process till the end. Vouch’s professionals are always available to assist you with all queries that you may have during the entire transaction process.
There is no scope for deceit or fraud since the payments, shipping, delivery, and execution are carried out under the honest and watchful eyes of the Vouch’s professionals. With Vouch, any business transaction becomes transparent, uncomplicated, and hassle-free. If you ever come across a fraudster asking for OTP, asking you to scan a QR code, or asking you to click on phishing links, you can simply refuse and ask him/her to proceed with the transaction through Vouch.
This is Fraud Story #183. Check back here for more fraud stories and scams that you can protect yourself from.
Safety is not just about protecting your credit, debit card number, and UPI accounts. It's about having control of your money till you've received the product or service you bought online!
Note: This is a good-faith initiative to educate the world about avoiding frauds like these and how to act when you're becoming a victim of such a situation.
Do you have a fraud you would like to report? Please write to us at letstalk@iamvouched.com
