Work from home job scams on rise in Bangladesh

Shahariar Islam Sovon :

Work-from-home job scams are rapidly increasing across Bangladesh, targeting thousands of unsuspecting individuals with promises of quick income for simple online tasks. As more people turn to remote work opportunities amid economic uncertainty, cyber fraudsters are exploiting their desperation-leaving victims financially and emotionally devastated.
Digital security expert Md. Naimul Islam told The New Nation that these scams are professionally run. People must avoid giving personal or banking information to unknown contacts. No legitimate job will ask for money upfront.”
As digital job opportunities continue to expand in Bangladesh, cybercriminals are taking advantage of the trend, luring job seekers particularly students and unemployed youth-into work-from-home scams. These schemes are becoming alarmingly common, especially on social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
The promise is usually simple: “Earn Tk 500 to Tk 3,000 daily by completing easy online tasks.” Victims are often asked to register through suspicious links or mobile apps and invest an initial amount ranging from Tk 1,000 to Tk 10,000 to get started. Once invested, many find themselves trapped in fake platforms that vanish after collecting significant amounts from multiple users.
Earlier this year, cyber detectives in Chattogram issued warnings after receiving numerous complaints from victims who were duped by fake part-time job offers. These fraudsters used SMS and messaging apps to circulate job advertisements that led to phishing websites or malware-infested links. According to police reports, these scams have cost victims lakhs of taka collectively.
Victims are promised easy earnings for liking, commenting, or watching YouTube videos. They are then encouraged to invest money to “unlock” higher-earning tasks. Some platforms mimic legitimate organizations, including tech firms and media outlets. In many cases, scammers pose as “mentors” and pressurize victims to recruit others.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and Cyber Police Center have launched awareness campaigns and are urging victims to come forward. However, due to the anonymous and cross-border nature of many of these scams, legal action remains a challenge.
Advice for Job Seekers:
Verify any work-from-home offer through official company websites.
Do not pay money for registration or task access.
Avoid clicking on unknown links in messages or emails.
Report scams to the Cyber Police via www.police.gov.bd or the DMP Cyber Crime Unit.
As the digital economy grows in Bangladesh, so does the need for digital literacy and caution. Job seekers are advised to stay alert and think twice before trusting quick-money offers online.