This is fun.
Maybe it’s the 5th time that I’m contacted by a person on Telegram/WhatsApp to work remotely.
Years ago, I just used to report the chat…
Then I started to go deeper into the net and eat the bait.
The Bait Link to heading
This usually starts with a message from a person on Telegram (mostly Telegram, maybe because WhatsApp doesn’t allow easy bots (Remember my WhatsApp bot solution?).
The person asks if you want to earn lots of money from working from home.
Who doesn’t??!??!?!
So you answer, and the dance starts.
Next Step Link to heading
Usually, the entry person refers you to another person who will give you the task to earn your money! Most of the time, this involves liking YouTube videos, eBay posts, or likes on random websites.
You have to do that, post a picture with the proof (sometimes even without doing that really), and hurray!
You are done!
The task person usually tells you that you will be paid by a third person.
The Payout Link to heading
You go to the third person and give them your bank account (I use a Revolut account for this), and then the money arrives!
Today, I received 17 euros for my miraculous work!! Yayyyy!
Next Round Link to heading
Now it is time for real money!!
You are usually sent to a group of “trained” professionals, where the real money will flow! This usually requires booking hotels or buying things.
The game here is that if you do what you are told, you will get the compensation!
Example: book a hotel room for 50 euros, get 400 euros back for the job!
… You can tell there is something fishy here…
Spit the Hook Link to heading
Of course, this is the game. The organization looks big, with multiple actors playing.
The first payment makes you feel safe, then they hope you are going to pay a lot more and they will take the money back… Classic.
But this is just a list of bots playing, with maybe some little human supervision.