A man from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, has lost Rs 40 lakh in an online scam after he was tricked into liking YouTube videos. The victim, Devang Chauhan, a 3D designer, said that he received a message on WhatsApp from an unknown number on April 21, 2023. The message offered him a work-from-home job that involved liking and promoting YouTube videos.
Chauhan said that he was initially skeptical, but the caller convinced him that the job was legitimate. The caller told him that he would be paid Rs 50 for every video that he liked and subscribed to. Chauhan was also told that he would be paid an additional bonus of Rs 1,500 after completing the first 100 videos.
Chauhan agreed to the job and started liking and subscribing to YouTube videos. He received his first payment of Rs 150 within a few days. This convinced him that the job was legitimate and he continued to work.
Over the next few weeks, Chauhan received several more payments. He was also added to a Telegram group with other people who were working on the same project. The group members would share tips on how to get more views and likes on their videos.
However, after a few weeks, the payments started to dry up. The caller told Chauhan that he needed to pay a tax of Rs 10,000 in order to continue working. Chauhan paid the tax, but the payments still did not resume.
Chauhan then tried to contact the caller, but he was unable to reach him. He also tried to access the Telegram group, but it had been deleted.
Chauhan realized that he had been scammed and filed a complaint with the police. The police are currently investigating the case.
This is not the first time that people have been scammed into liking YouTube videos. In 2021, a woman from Delhi lost Rs 2 lakh in a similar scam.
The police have warned people to be careful about online job offers that seem too good to be true. They said that people should only work for companies that they are familiar with and that they should never pay any money upfront.
Tips to Avoid Online Scams
- Be wary of any online job offer that seems too good to be true.
- Only work for companies that you are familiar with.
- Never pay any money upfront.
- Do your research before giving out your personal information.
- If you think you have been scammed, report it to the police immediately.
The Impact of This Scam
This scam has had a significant impact on the victim, Devang Chauhan. He has lost a large amount of money and he is now facing financial hardship. He is also feeling embarrassed and ashamed that he was tricked into falling for the scam.
This scam also has a wider impact. It shows that people are still vulnerable to online scams, even when they are aware of the risks. It also shows that scammers are constantly finding new ways to trick people out of their money.
How to Protect Yourself from Online Scams
There are a number of things that you can do to protect yourself from online scams. These include:
- Be aware of the latest scams.
- Do your research before giving out your personal information.
- Never pay any money upfront.
- Use strong passwords and keep them safe.
- Be careful about what information you share online.
- Report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
By following these tips, you can help to protect yourself from online scams.