Scam wham!

T is not uncommon these days to find college students and young professionals turning to part-time and online jobs for making a quick buck.

- ABDUL NAZER M A

The worrisome part is that some of them get lured into traps laid by cybercriminals seeking to exploit this trend.

Fraudsters lure individuals into fraudulent schemes that misuse the victim's bank and UPI accounts for illegal activities. They disguise themselves as job providers on social media, offering attractive commissions for simple tasks.

"Once victims share their banking and UPI details, their accounts are used to funnel illicit money. We call them mule accounts," a police officer explains.

"Those who unknowingly participate not only risk losing their funds but may also face serious legal consequences."

Cyber experts in Kochi warn that this is not just financial fraud—it can be part of a larger criminal network, and can lead to grave offences. "People have to be wary of offers or schemes that sound too good to be true," says an officer.

How it works

Explaining the modus operandi of this new fraud, a top police officer says the fraudsters typically approach victims through social media ads or direct inquiries, offering lucrative part-time or online jobs with attractive pay/commissions.

However, they rarely provide clear details about the work. Sometimes, they weave convincing stories, such as needing staff for share trading or marketing transactions. Once they gain the victim's trust, they demand personal bank and UPI account details.