Secret Reporters No place to hide
Secrets Reporters
In an age where remote work opportunities are cherished, a sinister network preys on job seekers, luring them into a web of deception and financial exploitation. Our investigation sheds light on a sophisticated scam that masquerades as legitimate job openings only to strip unsuspecting individuals of their hard-earned money.
Complaints reaching SecretsReporters exposed a journey into a seemingly genuine job posting for a customer support position at Jumia, an online technology company that is built around a marketplace, logistics service, and payment service. The victim, Rukevwe Ohwovorione, eager to secure remote employment, applied and received a swift response. However, the initial excitement soon turned into suspicion as he was informed that the position was filled. Little did he know that this was just the beginning of a well-orchestrated scheme.
I went online on Instagram and saw a post seeking applications from those interested in working as online agents on Jumia ready to work from home. The Job description is simply to connect with customers’ complaints and orders. After registering via the link, I was re-directed to a site claiming to be Konga, allegedly an agent for both Jumia and Konga.
Shortly after being rejected, the victim received a message from an alternate platform offering the same customer support role. Blinded by the hope of employment, he accepted the offer without realizing he had fallen into the clutches of a fraudulent operation.
“I was disappointed to hear that the application is closed on Jumia but was happy to hear that Konga was recruiting. The unidentified customer care representative from Konga explained the job expectations to me and told me there would be a series of tests. He (customer care from Konga) told me I was supposed to purchase a product and understand the steps involved,” Rukevwe narrated.
Rukevwe explained that on the website when a transaction is successful, your online wallet increases. He narrated that the Konga agent told him he was supposed to place his first capital to understand that the site was credible. The victim was coerced into making an initial payment of N1,000 under the guise of purchasing goods to test his entrepreneurial prowess. Encouraged by a modest profit (N1,500), which was withdrawable, he went deeper, unaware that he was navigating a treacherous path of exploitation.
“After the first successful task, I was not given employment, nor was I asked to share on my social media platform to gain referrals to patronize. As I diligently completed assigned tasks, the scammer systematically increased their demands. Additional payments were required to unlock further opportunities, each seemingly promising greater returns,” he cried.
Desperate to recoup his initial investment, the victim complied with mounting requests, blissfully unaware of the looming trap. From N1,000, he found himself paying N5,000 N7,130 N15,000. He was convinced to pay all these. He was then asked to pay N71,000 to complete the last task before the shackles in his eyes fell off.
Alas, the account details these huge sums have been going into is:
Number: 4425681719
Kunfem Art and Craft Ventures.
Monie Point
Phone number: +234 913 423 0526
When the victim finally realized the deception and demanded a refund of his capital, the scammers’ customer support representative unleashed a barrage of insults and threats. Our investigation uncovers the unethical practices employed by these criminals, exposing their utter disregard for basic moral principles.
Our investigative report reveals the modus operandi of these fraudsters which sues for vigilance in the face of enticing remote job offers. The battle against online fraud requires collective awareness and vigilance to ensure a safer digital landscape for all.
