‘Work from home’ internet scams are flourishing in India and luring thousands of gullible people under the pretext of online work, like basic typing work. Several US-based websites, which are banned in that country, are targeting Indians through localised version of their website

We have come across many internet frauds like the Rs2,000 crore Speak Asia online survey fraud, multi level marketing (MLM) schemes, pyramid and Ponzi schemes that lured people under pretext of different products and services. But in the end, their main aim was only to get money from pockets of people. Now, a bunch of US based websites are luring thousands of people across the world. Some of have launched Indian version of websites. One called ‘GroupDealTools’ of home profit system, and another website masquerading as a personalised and genuine website, named ‘Kavita Mehra’s Online Profits Course’ as promoted.
 

The portal ‘GroupDealTools’ offers Rs6,302 per day for basic typing work. Apart from the extraordinary returns, another give-away for even slightly sensible investors should be the hard-selling tone of typical MLM’s and Get-Rich-Quick Schemes used on this portal is: “Try it today, be your own boss, set your own hours! Live the lifestyle you deserve! Join the thousands who already made Money using this system! Easy to use & 100% safe, Don’t miss the opportunity!”

The site claims to be seen on The Hindu, The Times of India and India Today to gain people’s confidence and credibility.
 

After filing a registration form, the catch is that, although it offers a limited time discount on registration and 30 days money-back policy, it requires potential members to provide credit card details to charge Rs6,336 and give special discount for 45 days ‘free’ membership which costs Rs3,806. When exiting the site, another pop up comes and offers further discount at Rs2,750, a special 10 minute discount, so that users don’t get time to think and check its credibility. Even as complaints pour in after deducting registration amount, such websites continue to deduct money from credit cards after every few days.
 

Many complaints are already piling up from Indians on different consumer forums against websites like ‘GreatDealTools’. One such victim, Mankiran, shared on Consumer Complaints  stating: “I saw the promos and names like TOI and TV channels which covered them, They offered membership at Rs5,955 was not a big risk, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee was there if I didn't make money. Errors during registration required me to repeat registration 4 times and total deductions or Rs23,821.56 has been made from my account without any login id, receipt. I want to cancel my membership and claim full refund.”
 

These sites are also promoting themselves on different portals that look like any news and media website. For example, ‘GroupDealTools’ is promoted by ‘careertimes.org’ and includes “success stories” making it more personalised to entrap people to join. One such story is about an Indian mother who reportedly managed to earn Rs3 lakh per month after joining this site. The story has an image of the lady and her daughter, with their first monthly cheque of Rs3.25 lakh. Interestingly, Careertimes.org does not allow anyone to comment on these stories and filters them. This website follows the same gimmick of touting its own advertisements on channels like CNN IBN, Times Now, NDTV, Aajtak, CNBC TV18 and Sun Network to boost credibility.


Another victim says, “I would like to warn and advise people not to fall in Kavita Mehra's online work from home programme. I responded to an internet advertisement. It claimed I would easily be able to make money on the internet by just posting links. I paid money through debit card and got the login details of millionnairesociety.com. This is not what I signed up for and I believe this is an unfair and deceptive practice. I want to get my money back as they promised its 100% money-back guarantee if we are not satisfied but can't get access to any of their contact details. The website is very tempting, but to be frank it’s false advertising and frankly a big scam.”
 

US-based sites have localised versions of their websites which sends personalised emails and publishes inspiring testimonials, targeting customers. Many Indians have got following email with the subject line: “A Personal Request”
 

Hi,
 

Achievements in Life never come easily to anyone.
 

It may take months, years or even decades for things to work out in the right way, even if you strive endlessly day and night to earn enough for your family.
 

I have started to believe differently after I tried this.

A right opportunity, at the right time, and a right decision changed my life forever.

I'm earning about Rs1,80,000 - Rs2,00,000 every month and all I needed was access to a computer, and a couple of hours every day to work.

Here's what I am talking about (Link)
 

This is working for everyone who was smart enough to make the decision!
 

Thanks,

Kanika Sarin
 

The above email redirects its readers to a website which has a success story. In India, there are three websites: careertimes, newsonlineweekly and economicalert which promotes ‘GroupDealTool’. However, all the websites contain the same stories with different photographs and links. It shows how ‘legitimate’ the site is! As you can see from the picture below, both these mothers have same story and both of them followed different sites—‘Online Profits’ and ‘eStorebuilder’— of same US-based fraudsters.

US-based fraudsters run this scam across countries with their localised websites, its main website, which is available in every country, operate as newsonlineweekly. This portal also has same typical ‘success story Arpita and Krishna from India, of mom and daughter who made money’. It provides link of the website where one can get started! The following picture exposes the reality—how one mom Melissa can make money in three different countries US, United Kingdom, Canada by doing typing work.
 

Unlike the Indian government which is not taking any action against these type of internet scamsters, the US such fraud sites are banned. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) published notice on its website  cautioning people to stay away from this kind of scams stated: “Work-at-Home Scams: Do Not Take the Bait! Everyone’s seen them- seductive work-at-home opportunities hyped in flyers tacked to telephone poles, in newspaper classifieds, in your e-mail, and all over the web, promising you hundreds or thousands of dollars a week for typing, stuffing envelopes, processing medical billing, etc. And it’s just a phone call or mouse click away. It might be tempting during these uncertain economic times, but beware of any offers that promise easy money for minimum effort-many are scams that fill the coffers of criminals.”
 

Moneylife has frequently warned that "If it looks too good to be true, it usually is." This is clearly another in the same category.

To know more about such online scams read our other articles:

Home Web Profit: Another online scam attempts to lure people with the promise of riches for basic typing work done from home
 

“Great Money Lab”, another survey and email fraud, spreading wings
 

Automated Paydays India: Work from home business, is it real or a scam?

Another online survey company luring people

Competition heats up in online survey space with the entry of domestic MLM companies

Fanbox mail scam: Watch out for automatic debit from your bank, PayPal account

Fanbox spam scam: Don’t fall prey to the earnings mailer

SpeakAsia still can’t show valid, legal documents
 

Infotech company selling ‘home-based jobs’ and UID kits for easy money