Work-from-Home Scam Leads to Rs. 8 Lakh Loss for Karnataka Woman

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A woman from Karnataka recently fell prey to a work-from-home scam, losing over Rs. 8 lakh in the process. The scam involved a WhatsApp message that promised work-from-home opportunities and easy money, leading the victim to provide personal and financial details that were subsequently used to siphon off money from her account.

The victim received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number offering work-from-home opportunities with a reputed company. The message promised easy money and the convenience of working from home. The victim, who was looking for a job, was lured by the offer and provided her personal and financial details as well as her Aadhaar card information. She was then asked to transfer a registration fee of Rs. 10,000, which she did.

The fraudsters continued to communicate with the victim, asking her to transfer more money for various reasons such as equipment purchases, training, and taxes. The victim, who was unaware that she was being scammed, continued to transfer money as requested. She realized that she had been scammed only after losing over Rs. 8 lakh in the process.

Work-from-home scams have become increasingly common in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fraudsters are taking advantage of the increased demand for work-from-home opportunities and the vulnerability of job seekers to scam people. These scams typically involve promises of easy money, work-from-home opportunities, and the convenience of working from home. They often require victims to provide personal and financial details, which are then used to siphon off money from their accounts.

Staff Reporter