The FBI is warning job seekers about a new wave of work-from-home scams designed to steal cryptocurrency. These scams target individuals with enticing job offers, only to defraud them of their digital assets.
Rise in Work-from-Home Job Scams
In a June 4 statement, the FBI highlighted a surge in fraudulent work-from-home job advertisements. Scammers often contact potential victims through unsolicited calls or messages, offering simple tasks like rating restaurants or optimizing services by clicking buttons repeatedly.
Victims may initially believe they are earning money, as scammers direct them to fake interfaces that display fake earnings. The deception becomes clear when victims are asked to make cryptocurrency payments to “unlock” more work. These payments, however, go directly to the scammers.
“You are directed to make cryptocurrency payments to your employer as part of a job,” the FBI noted.
The FBI advises job seekers to be cautious of job descriptions that excessively use the word “optimization” and do not require references during the recruitment process. These are common indicators of a scam.
Increasing Popularity of Remote Work
With remote work becoming more popular, the number of victims falling for such traps is increasing. According to Statista, the percentage of remote workers worldwide rose to 28% by the end of 2023.
Also Read: SEC Issues Warning on Five Common Crypto Scams
Remote workers have the flexibility to choose their work locations. For instance, crypto consultant Dominic Frei moved from Switzerland to Bali with his family to enjoy a better lifestyle and climate.
Rising Crypto-Related Fraud
This warning follows alarming statistics from the FBI regarding crypto-related fraud. In 2023, investment losses involving crypto increased from $2.57 billion in 2022 to around $3.94 billion, a 53% rise.
One prevalent scam is the romance scam, where criminals create fake online identities to gain a victim’s affection and trust. They then fabricate stories to persuade the victim to send cryptocurrency, only to disappear afterward.
