Many things can now be done online with just a few clicks thanks to the Internet and modern technology. The majority of job applications are done online. While modern technology offers many advantages, it also has many disadvantages. As fraudsters become more sophisticated, there is a tidal wave of online job fraud.
Noida man falls victim to overseas job fraud, loses ₹6.28 lakh
The police booked an unidentified individual on Wednesday for allegedly duping a 58-year-old man out of 6.28 lakh in an overseas job scam. The victim, who lives in a high-rise housing complex in Noida Sector 100, was the deputy general manager at a government-owned oil company.
On July 19, 2021, the victim, who did not wish to be named, reported receiving an email from a human resources department of a private company in Poland. In an email, he was told the company shortlisted his resume from a job portal in India. "As it was an excellent opportunity, I replied to the email asking for clarifications on a few points," he stated in his complaint.
Through emails, the suspect continued to contact the man, and on August 6 he provided him with an interview document. On August 13, the victim submitted his application with copies of his academic certificates and passport. On August 16, the suspect emailed me to inform me of my selection as head of sales and marketing for the company, said the victim.
The victim was also provided with the job offer and job agreement.
However, the victim received an email from the suspect on August 26 demanding payment of Rs 3.46 lakh for visas and other paperwork. This payment was made by the victim. "On August 30, I was asked to make another payment of Rs 87,440 for a work permit, and made payments in the name of travel insurance, bank account opening, etc. The total amount I paid them was Rs 6.28 lakhs, he added.
Following the suspect's insistence for more money, the victim approached the Poland embassy in New Delhi and learned that "such formalities were not required for a job in that country". “I realized I was cheated through the pretense of a job in Poland,” the victim said, adding that he stopped communicating with the employer and sought help from the cyber cell, which directed the Sector 39 police to file a report.
An unidentified person has been charged under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 420 (cheating), as well as Section 66D of the Information Technology Act. Rajeev Kumar, the station house officer (SHO) of Sector 39 police station, said that an investigation is underway.
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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 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 #217. 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
