Cybercriminals are targeting WhatsApp users with a new scam involving liking YouTube videos. According to a report, hackers are offering users the opportunity to earn money by liking YouTube videos, with the promise of earning up to Rs 5,000 daily through a “YouTube likes job”. However, this is a trap to steal personal and financial information, such as bank account details and credit card information, through a fake payment gateway app.
Users are being targeted through WhatsApp and LinkedIn, with hackers sending job offer messages with limited slots. When users reply to the message to reserve the slot, they are told they will earn money by liking YouTube videos. The hackers then ask users to take a screenshot of the liked videos and download an app for payment. In the second part of the scam, the hackers make an excuse about a problem with the payment transfer and ask the user to pay Rs 1 through the payment gateway app for verification.
It’s important for WhatsApp users to be aware of this scam and not fall for the lure of easy money. Always be skeptical of job offers and money-making opportunities that seem too good to be true, and never share personal or financial information with strangers. Also, be cautious about downloading any app that you are not familiar with. Remember to stay alert when it comes to offers that look too good to be true and always double-check the authenticity of the source and the information provided.
The hackers take advantage of the users looking for a job or trying to earn part-time money, by giving the lure of earning Rs.50 for liking YouTube videos. They also pay their victim up to Rs 150, so that the user trusts it and stays connected. This payment is done by liking three videos. They use the business model of generating fake YouTube likes through fake accounts and bot farms. They try to win the trust of the users by telling themselves to be associated with any global social media or internet company.
Some Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the WhatsApp YouTube likes job scam? It is a scam where cybercriminals target WhatsApp users by offering them the opportunity to earn money by liking YouTube videos, with the promise of earning up to Rs 5,000 daily. However, this is a trap to steal personal and financial information, such as bank account details and credit card information, through a fake payment gateway app.
- How do I protect myself from this scam? To protect yourself from this scam, it’s important to be skeptical of job offers and money-making opportunities that seem too good to be true, and never share personal or financial information with strangers. Also, be cautious about downloading any app that you are not familiar with. Remember to stay alert when it comes to offers that look too good to be true and always double-check the authenticity of the source and the information provided.
- How do hackers target users? Hackers target users through WhatsApp and LinkedIn, by sending job offer messages with limited slots. When users reply to the message to reserve the slot, they are told they will earn money by liking YouTube videos. The hackers then ask users to take a screenshot of the liked videos and download an app for payment.
- What should I do if I have already fallen for this scam? If you have already fallen for this scam, it’s important to contact your bank and credit card company immediately to report the fraud. Additionally, you should change your passwords for all of your accounts, and consider adding two-factor authentication for added security.
- How do I know if a job offer on WhatsApp is legitimate? It’s important to be skeptical of job offers that seem too good to be true and to always verify the authenticity of the source and the information provided. Additionally, it’s a good idea to research the company and the job offer before responding. If the offer is too good to be true or if the company or person is not legitimate, it’s best to avoid it.