Cyber Fraud In The Name Of ‘Work From Home’ Job Offer

Cyber crime is emerging as a big challenge for banks as well as law enforcement agencies.  Fraudsters are using a different type of modus operandi to commit cyber fraud. Nowadays, various type of fake messages related to ‘work from home’ job offer is being circulated wherein it is mentioned that “You are selected for the Work from Home job offer. Get you payment 8,000- 30,000 Rs. per day. [Click the link below to enquire].

Once the victim clicks on the mentioned link, WhatsApp window related to fraudster opens. If the victim starts the conversation, the fraudster offers a part-time job offer which is completely ‘work from home’ and having good salary without any investment.

Modus Operandi:

Cyber criminals send such type of fake messages to the citizens stating that you have been selected for the ‘Work from Home’ job offer and you will get good amount per day. Such message also contains fake links. Once the victim clicks on the mentioned link, WhatsApp window opens which is related to the fraudster’s mobile. If the victim starts the conversation, then the fraudster offers a part-time job offer which is completely ‘work from home’ and having good salary like Rs. 8,000 and above per day without any investment.

Subsequently, the fraudster sends a phishing link and requests the victim to click on the link and pay a nominal registration fee of Rs. 10/-. When victim clicks on the phishing link, a malicious web page opens in which the victim enters his/her payment credentials such as card number, expiry date, CVV, OTP etc.  Meantime, the fraudster noted down the payment credential because of a phishing website. Subsequently, the fraudster initiates online transaction on the basis of payment credentials and gets OTP also through phishing site which is entered by victim itself. Consequently, amount gets debited from victim’s account in fraudulent manner.  In such transaction, victim is received OTP for transaction initiated by fraudster not for registration fee of Rs. 10/- because the malicious website is used only for the purpose of getting the payment credentials and OTP.

How to prevent from such type of cyber fraud:

• Simply ignore and delete such messages.
• You may inform about such messages with screenshot at National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal https://cybercrime.gov.in
• Do not call on contact numbers mentioned in such messages.
• Do not click on an unknown link or link mentioned in such messages. Otherwise, you may be defrauded.
• Do not share debit/ credit card number, expiry date, CVV, PIN, password, OTP etc. to anyone.
• Do not enter debit/ credit card number, expiry date, CVV, PIN, password, OTP etc. on webpage which is opened through malicious link.
• Do not install app in your mobile using link. For installing app, please directly visit at Play Store/ App Store.
• If you receive link for installing AnyDesk or TeamViewer QuickSupport app or AutoForward SMS app, do not install it otherwise, you may be defrauded.

Reporting of Financial Cyber Fraud:  

In case of Financial Cyber Fraud, immediately call at National Cyber Crime Reporting Helpline Number 1930 or register your complaint at National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal https://cybercrime.gov.in. In addition to that also visit to your Bank or contact to bank’s toll free numbers to avoid further loss and for disabling online banking channels such as debit card, credit card, internet banking, mobile banking, UPI, AEPS etc. Bank’s toll free numbers are also mentioned on the back side of debit card, credit card and also available at Bank’s official websites.

Disclaimer: “All contents presented in this article are personal views of author. These contents can not be treated as official views of the author.”

Writer– Satyendra Sharma is Chief Manager (IT) in PNB, Head Office, New Delhi and he is also Nodal Officer for Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), MHA.