Zerodha’s Nitin Kamath’s Friend Lost ₹5Lacs in a part-time scam, I earned ₹425— Beware!
Before we jump on my story please go through the tweet below by Zerodha’s CEO Nitin Kamath.
You can find the full thread here. Part-time job scams have become increasingly common, and it’s essential to be aware of them to avoid falling into their trap. I’d like to share my personal experience to highlight some red flags that you should watch out for.
Recently, I received a message from an unknown number on WhatsApp, as seen in the attached screenshot below. The message introduced me to a part-time job opportunity that involved following and liking Instagram accounts. The offer was lucrative, as the company promised to pay me ₹50 for each account I followed as per their instructions.
In the screenshots provided, the scammer contacted me and offered me a part-time job to follow and like some Instagram accounts in exchange for payment. I completed the tasks as instructed and received payment from a person named @virginie189 after providing my bank details.
The scammer then offered me a new opportunity to complete tasks in a group setting and get paid per five tasks completed. All tasks were similar, involving following Instagram accounts and liking their content. However, one task was a prepaid task where the scammer was hiding the actual scam.
The scammer’s strategy is to gain the victim’s trust by paying them a small amount initially. So that I can still be in their game.
The prepaid task was related to some cryptocurrencies, saying that they will be investing/adding some real from us and later we will be able to receive around 30–40% on top of that.
Withdrawal will take only 5 mins and we can’t skip that prepaid task. But of course, I knew already that all this was a scam, to collect the payment I provided a bank account with 0 balance, and I don’t do any transactions in it (sooner will close this too lol).
I created a little drama that I don’t have money to eat, I don’t earn so that I would be able to skip the prepaid task and earn normally. They said I can skip only one time, but the half payment will be transferred then. I said ok and got my money (150+150+125 = 425).
So now, I knew she/he wasn’t going to pay me more. I had one last move and I did that. I paid her for the prepaid task
So technically, I made ₹424 from them not ₹425. XD.
It is important to note that although I took certain actions in response to the scam, I do not recommend that others do the same in similar situations. In my case, I was motivated to raise awareness about these scams after reading a tweet by Nitin Kamath, and I wanted to do my part in helping people identify and avoid such fraudulent activities.
Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their efforts to deceive and cheat people out of their hard-earned money, and it is essential to remain vigilant and aware of the tactics they use. By being aware of the warning signs and taking necessary precautions, we can protect ourselves from falling prey to such scams.
Therefore, it is crucial to beware of such scams and take measures to avoid them. This includes not disclosing personal information to strangers and being cautious of any job offers that require upfront fees or involve suspicious activities. Stay informed and aware, and report any suspicious activities to the relevant authorities to prevent others from being scammed.
BEWARE OF SUCH SCAMS!
You can connect with me from the below social links
LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/pankaj07/
Portfolio Website — https://frontdevpankaj.web.app
