Internet access and the dissemination of online platforms are growing as fast as social engineering.
Disguised as a highly profitable investment or job opportunity that promises big money, the “Task Scam” or “Extra Income Scam” loom large, attracting the attention of law enforcers and interested entities, given the countless victims it has made.
When a scam is ran, as a rule, victims are reached through messaging applications with online “job” proposals by a digital marketing company, promising as main activities small daily tasks such as following certain profiles on social media, liking photos, watching videos (the so-called “Movie Tagger”), and making comments, and rewards ranging from BRL 100.00 to BRL 1,500.00 per day.
As a way to feign credibility, scammers initially pay commissions for tasks at low values, until they offer the opportunity to generate higher revenues through “prepaid tasks,” in which the victim should make a payment to the company with a promise of return on the same day, and a profitability of about 50%.
To this end, the victim is included in a WhatsApp group, where proof of payment is shown to fake true receipt after tasks are performed, but the ruse of legitimate proposal is revealed soon after investing, where exclusion and blocking leave them only with financial loss.
By and large, promises are so appealing that several Brazilians have been led to substantial financial losses, which is why promises of massive financial returns with little or no risk should be viewed with suspicion.
In the “Task Scam” or “Extra Income Scam,” a return of BRL 1,5k on the same day is promised after an investment of only BRL 1,000.00. What investment yields 50% per month? And how about on a single day!?
Therefore, exhaustive research of the marketing company and its operation in reliable and independent sources, check of reviews, check if the company is registered with regulatory bodies, if there are business registrations, licenses, and other forms of authentication, in addition, needless to say, to the confirmation if the person who is making the contact actually has a connection with the company they affirm to represent, are examples of prevention measures to be adopted before accepting similar proposals.
And, once the preventive measures have been followed, if you fall for a scam, it is essential to immediately report it to law enforcers through filing a Police Report, along with the financial institution where you hold a bank account to mitigate the losses.
According to information released by FEBRABAN, Banks invest almost BRL 4bn a year in technology security systems to ensure the peace of mind of their customers in their daily financial transactions, but, unfortunately, a key part of the security of services depends on wise consumer attitudes.
Available at: https://www.migalhas.com.br/depeso/401198/golpe-da-tarefa-promessas-boas-demais-para-serem-verdade
Autor: Camila Henrique Leite • email: camila.leite@ernestoborges.com.br • Tel.: +55 67 99901 0803
