My encounter with an online Cybercrime/Phishing Scam in Japan – Alert

My Encounter with an Online Scam here in Japan.

We sometime think that there is no harm in replying any random message offering you a lucrative job online cannot pose a problem, but you should read till the end that some of these offers are well managed and they have a fix framework they follow. They create such a “Make to believe” ecosystem around you that everything looks legit. I lost few lacs of yens in the process and hence sharing it so that it does not happen with any other person.

Read on step by step how I got into this & ultimately came out.

Step 1: Tempting Offer

One day, I received a tempting WhatsApp message promising lucrative part-time jobs requiring just 30-60 minutes of daily online work. Intrigued, I decided to give it a shot, joining casually to earn some extra income.

Step 2: Gaining Trust

A friendly individual messaged me, welcoming me to the opportunity. They added me to a group claiming to be a community of coworkers, all seemingly engaged in the same job for an extended period. The group, comprised of 53 members of all ages, conveyed an air of legitimacy.

Step 3: Initial Training

In the group, I received training for the job over the first two days. The instructions seemed straightforward, and everything appeared legitimate. They even offered to recharge my account, making it easy to get started.

Step 4: Building Confidence

As days passed, I completed tasks and received my commissions in my bank account. This gave me a sense of accomplishment and confidence, convincing me that the opportunity was genuine. They asked me to pay for buying apps like Starbucks, Uniqlo, Facebook which are the brand which we know to make it more believable. I was told that we are trying to increase the ratings of these app.

Step 5: Escalation

Then came the twist. The tasks suddenly involved significantly larger amounts, with the promise of even greater returns. Anxiety set in as I realized the stakes were higher, and I risked losing my invested money.

Step 6: Doubts Arise

I began to question the legitimacy of the opportunity. My instincts told me this might be a scam, but the supportive group members assured me it was a genuine company with a long track record. They even offered to lend me money to complete tasks, creating a web of trust.

Step 7: Commitment and Loss

Despite my reservations, I deposited more money to recharge and tackle the escalated tasks. I managed to complete 40 of them, but the pressure mounted as they demanded more and more. Doubts loomed larger, and I realized I might have fallen into a trap.

Step 8: Awakening

At task 41, I stopped myself. It hit me that I was likely being scammed. I reflected on my situation, realizing the extent of my mistake. The supportive group members had been playing a psychological game, exploiting my vulnerabilities.

Step 9: Emotional Turmoil

Anger, irritation, sadness, and self-deprecation surged within me. I felt frustrated with myself for being deceived, and I grappled with these intense emotions.

Step 10: Seeking Support

I mustered the courage to share my experience with family and friends. Their understanding and support helped me regain my composure and learn from my misstep. With their advice we went and reported to local police station and they connected us to their cyber cell who are looking into the matter in a very effective way. They are following the bank accounts transaction trails and have been able to successfully freeze few accounts. Also, they are trying to into a possibility on how I can make up for the money I put it in  during this whole scam.

Step 11: Moving Forward with Caution

My encounter with this scam left a lasting impact. I now share my story as a cautionary tale to raise awareness about the tactics scammers employ. The psychological manipulation can be overwhelming, but by staying informed and vigilant, we can protect ourselves and others from falling victim to such scams.

Remember, if an opportunity seems too good to be true, it’s essential to verify its authenticity through trusted sources before making any commitments.

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How do you spot these ? (Addendum)

There is an alarmingly high number of spam messages coming these days. Fake job opportunities, fake immigration calls and lot more. Message coming from a non japanese number is the first red flag. Getting these messages from US, HK numbers

They also use real names. When you ask for email address, they do not respond as most of the times they won’t have email with that domain.

They also use real names. When you ask for email address, they do not respond as most of the times they won’t have email with that domain.

Other details of the organization

 Work area : APP optimization

Company: Aglieworksapp

Website:agileworksapp.com 

Address: No address in Japan

Erika 14,10416 Tallin Arsenal center 2F Estonia 

Admin/Customer service no.: 090-5994-6183

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Disclaimer: The above views are as presented to us by the person who experienced it and reported to the authorities. We do not claim that above is necessarily fraud and the matter is subjudice. There can be a case that some illegitimate use of identities  are being used.