We must stay one step ahead of scamsters

Representation pic

Scam season doesn't seem to be ending, with a recent case shedding light on new methods that are used to defraud people. A 30-year-old working professional has filed a complaint at the Shivaji Nagar police station in Govandi after being duped of Rs 27 lakh.

Broadly, the scheme went like this: The victim was told via chat with pictures of customer feedback and certain ‘government' certificates, that there is a way to earn from home.

All she had to do was to ‘like' videos and she would earn money for that. After that she got more money after investing a small sum, to fill in data.

Then, the demand for sums to be invested in order for higher returns escalated, running into lakhs. Finally, the victim even took loans in the hope that once the huge returns came in, she would pay them off and still make a tidy profit. Those sums never came, leaving her in debt and she had to file a complaint at the
police station.

Also Read: Mumbai Crime: Chinese link in latest ‘like and earn' scam

Do think before you get swayed by the promise of easy money because frankly, there is no such thing. Why should you be paid for liking videos? If this was a credible means of employment, most people would be liking videos rather than doing other things to earn a living. Patience, research and logic are needed to discern cons.

These scams start innocuously enough, with people even given small amounts of money for the so-called ‘work' asked of them. This builds confidence and people who are slowly being roped in by the schemer start believing that they are part of a legit operation and all doubts are dispelled after the first sum comes in.

The pattern is similar to those who borrow money and pay it back once or twice to build confidence and then, the real swindle begins. Scams are on overdrive; stay ahead of the con game, people.