"Fraudsters devise innovative scam targeting Russians"
Scam Alert: Malware Disguised as Employment App on Telegram
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In recent instances, job seekers have been enticed to download a seemingly legitimate "employment" app, which unbeknownst to them, is actually malware in disguise.
A Deceptive Offer
Spending an hour casually browsing on your laptop, you stumble upon an alluring job offer. Supposedly from employees of major marketplaces, these offers promise easy income. However, they are nothing more than a deception, according to Russia's Cyber Police.
The Scheme Unveiled
The mechanics of the scam are as follows:
- Victims receive simple tasks, and within minutes, they see a small amount of money credited to their virtual account.
- After this initial phase, the new recruit is added to a "work" Telegram channel filled with numerous participants.
- They are told to be ready for work the next day at a specific time, when salespeople post links to like.
- Liking is merely the beginning. Next come "buyout" tasks, which pay more. The victim is instructed to purchase a specific product, using the provided payment details. The client then returns the money, along with a cashback.
- To make the victim more inclined to send money, fellow group members share screenshots of their own buyouts, boast about their earnings, and express gratitude towards the managers.
One of the victims shares his experience, stating, "Of course, it's all bots or one person using multiple accounts. The messages are always the same, it's laughable. They just want you to send money so you can finally start making your millions."
The Grand Deception
Victims receive a small cashback on their first two or three "purchases." Then, they receive a large order for tens or even hundreds of thousands of rubles. After sending the massive sum, the user is abruptly blocked in all groups.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, young people seeking easy online work, often combined with studies, are the primary targets of such scams. In some cases, applicants are convinced to download a "work app" that actually distributes malicious software, as warned by the cyber police.
Why Could This Be Untrue?
Messages are typically sent to everyone, not only those seeking employment. The work requires minimal time, and a substantial income is promised. As a "manager," one could easily employ close friends or relatives in such an easy position without sharing the opportunity with strangers. Even for simple likes, scammers supposedly pay a significant amount, around 50-70 rubles each.
However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reveals that, on the market for boosting services, one like costs between 0.1 to 0.5 rubles. To earn even 500 rubles, one would need to like thousands of posts, a physically challenging task. For instance, on boosting sites, payments to performers are no more than 10-15 kopecks per action.
The enrichment data illustrates how these work-from-home opportunities can differ significantly from legitimate work-from-home jobs. Key differences include legitimacy and transparency, payment and compensation, job requirements and training, security and safety, and red flags. Legitimate opportunities rarely contact individuals out of the blue with unsolicited job offers, while scams may use fake identities or impersonate real companies to gain trust. Knowing these differences can help one discern genuine work-from-home jobs from scams.
- In light of the ongoing Telegram scam, it's crucial to note that downloading a 'work' app could potentially distribute malicious software, as warned by Russia's Cyber Police.
- The enticing job offers promising easy income, often found on general-news sites and social media platforms, could be part of the crime-and-justice category if they turn out to be malware hiding as employment apps, as recently demonstrated by the Telegram scam.
