In recent months, many Ukrainians have received offers on Telegram or WhatsApp for easy earnings: All you have to do is like videos on TikTok or YouTube, rate restaurants and hotels on Google Maps or like songs on Spotify. Relating to? Catch links to videos, music, hotels or restaurants, like, comment, send screenshots with confirmation and earn 100 hryvnia for three completed tasks. In general, they offer earnings between 800 and 3000 hryvnia per day. It turns out that this is not a job, but a dream.

But you will have to “work” for scammers. You can easily get the first earned money from the card, but this is just a bait. The scammers will then ask you to transfer them a certain amount of money. They then promise to refund them along with the money you “earn” for completed tasks.

At first everything really happens this way. Then the program is repeated, but the rates increase and you are asked for a larger amount. You send it away and… you lose contact with the “employer.”

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM A SIMILAR FRAUD SCHEME?

● Do not respond to similar offers of online work. Such offers are +1,+8, +6 etc. It may come from foreign numbers starting with , through various messaging programs;

● Do not deposit (send) your own money to work online. In most cases these are offers from scammers;

● Be careful about making easy profits;

● do not pay any service to apply for a job in this or that organization.

There is another option to get “easy earnings” from scammers on the Internet; You don’t need to do anything here, just send the money amount and wait for it to double.

A person receives an offer to transfer a certain amount of money with the possibility of receiving twice as much. For example, at first you will be asked to send 100 hryvnia, instead the scammers will transfer you 200 hryvnia, but the next time your contribution amount will start to increase, at the same time you will not receive double the money. It seems like a simple plan that almost no one will believe, but unfortunately there are still people who fall into this trap.

FAKE INTERNET STORES

Scammers create fake websites and online store pages on social networks, for example Instagram! To make money from customers, they offer products at low prices and these products are then not shipped.

To remember! Scammers can create the illusion of a real store:

● respond to messages quickly;

● help choose size;

● make recommendations regarding product features;

● I promise fast delivery.

LIFE HACKS FOR SAFE INTERNET SHOPPING

● Use a virtual card for online shopping! Transfer to it only the amount required for the purchase.

● Be wary of online stores that encourage you to buy quality products at minimal prices.

● Do not enter your payment card information on unfamiliar and suspicious websites.

● Check the online store’s website for possible fraud for free in the CheckMyLink service.

IMPORTANT! The fraud scheme may be brand new or well disguised. So, in addition to checking the site for fraud, do your own checking as well.

Keeping secret:

● three-digit number on the back of the card;

● codes of banks and mobile operators;

● Internet banking passwords.

If you have been a victim of fraud, fill out the feedback form on the Cyber ​​Police website.

You can find more information about payment security rules on the #ShakhrayGoodbye website.

This publication was prepared by the National Bank of Ukraine. Its distribution was carried out with the support of USAID Project “Investments for Business Sustainability” (formerly USAID Project “Financial Sector Reform”). The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the U.S. Government.