Survivors Remember
- It was not your fault!
- You are a survivor!
- You are stronger than you know!
- You are not alone!
- Axios! You are worthy!
- Vera! It’s all true!
To get help, please visit ScamVictimsSupport.org and sign up for the SCARS Institute FREE Scam Survivor’s School at www.SCARSeducation.org
My Scam Victim Story/Survivor Story #90
Job/Fake Employment Scam
Survivor’s Country: Canada
This is the original victim’s story, enhanced by the SCARS Institute Editorial Team to improve comprehension, readability, and continuity. The names were changed to protect the survivor’s identity.
WARNING: THIS SCAM VICTIM/SURVIVOR’S STORY MAY BE TRIGGERING TO SOME PEOPLE. DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
ADVERTENCIA: LA HISTORIA DE ESTA VÍCTIMA/SOBREVIVIENTE DE ESTAFA PUEDE SER INSENSIBLE PARA ALGUNAS PERSONAS. SE RECOMIENDA DISCRECIÓN.
If you need help, join our free SCARS Institute Support and Recovery Program at support.AgainstScams.org
Si necesita ayuda, únase a nuestro Programa gratuito de Apoyo y Recuperación del Instituto SCARS en support.AgainstScams.org
My Scam Victim Story
My Job Scam
I never thought I’d be the one to fall for something like this. As an international student in Canada, I’m usually so careful with everything. Money is tight, and I’ve always been risk-averse, double-checking every decision, especially when it comes to finances. But here I am, staring at my empty bank account, feeling like the biggest fool in the world. I lost $4,000 CAD to a task-based job scam, and it’s tearing me apart. It’s not just the money; it’s the betrayal of my own judgment, the way this has piled onto an already tough situation. I was in a bad place mentally before this happened, struggling with homesickness and unemployment, and now I’m spiraling even deeper.
It all started with a random message on WhatsApp. I was scrolling through my phone one evening, trying to distract myself from job applications that were going nowhere. The message came from an unknown number, introducing themselves as a recruiter for an online job opportunity. They said it was simple: complete tasks like reviewing products or data entry, and earn commissions. At first, I brushed it off. I’d been approached about something similar before, and I knew it sounded too good to be true. I told her straight up that I wasn’t interested because it seemed risky. But she was persistent. She kept messaging, explaining how easy it was, how many people were making good money from home. She shared screenshots of payouts and testimonials that looked real. In retrospect, I don’t know why I didn’t just block her right then. Maybe I was desperate for some extra cash to cover my tuition and living expenses. Maybe the isolation of being far from home made me more vulnerable. Whatever the reason, I caved and signed up.
The first two days felt like a win. I logged into their platform, which looked professional enough with dashboards and task lists. I completed a set of assignments, things like optimizing data or clicking through surveys. The commissions trickled in, not a fortune, but real money hitting my account, maybe $50 or $100 CAD each time. It built my confidence. I thought, okay, this might actually work. I could use this to tide me over until I found a real job. Little did I know that was just the hook.
On the third day, things took a turn. My task list started showing negative balances. The agent explained it was because I had received “luxury data” assignments, which were premium tasks that required an upfront payment to “unlock” higher commissions. I finished my first set without issues, but then these “golden eggs” popped up, special bonuses that supposedly multiplied my earnings and boosted the account balance. It sounded exciting at the time, like I was getting lucky. The luxury data kept coming, and suddenly I had to clear a negative figure to continue. I spoke to the agent, who assured me it was normal for new users and that I’d only get zero to two of these. She promised the payouts would cover everything and more.
I hesitated, but I wired the money to clear the first one. Then a second luxury data hit, and I had to pay again. By now, I’d put in about 3,000 CAD, which was my school fees money, the savings I’d scraped together from odd jobs back home. I was terrified. This wasn’t play money; it was my future on the line. At task 33 out of 35, a third one appeared. The agent said it was unusual for newcomers and that I was just “lucky” to get these high-value tasks. To clear it, I needed another $3,000 CAD. I broke down on the call, explaining I didn’t have that kind of cash. I begged them to deduct it from my commissions and let me withdraw my capital. They refused, saying the system didn’t work that way.
I only had $800 CAD left to my name, the last of my emergency funds. The agent offered to help, saying she’d cover the difference herself because she felt bad for me as a student. Desperate to recover what I’d already lost, I sent the 800. I waited anxiously for her to confirm the rest. But then she messaged that her transfer was stuck, and the next day, she claimed her account had been closed. She turned it around on me, saying it was because she was trying to assist that she ended up in trouble. The company told me to take my time and clear the balance, promising I’d get everything back once I did. But it all felt wrong now.
That’s when the red flags I should have seen from the start hit me like a truck. I started asking basic questions: What’s the physical address of the company? Can I have names and phone numbers of real employees? Suddenly, radio silence. No responses, no updates. The platform still showed my balance, taunting me with numbers I couldn’t touch. I realized I’d been played from the beginning.
The guilt is overwhelming. I usually do my due diligence, researching everything obsessively. How did I ignore all the signs? The unsolicited approach, the pressure to invest personal money, the vague explanations. It feels like a blur now, like I was in some kind of trance. I’m mentally and emotionally shattered. I can’t eat; every meal turns my stomach with nausea from the stress. Sleep? Forget it. I lie awake replaying conversations in my head, wondering why I didn’t stop sooner. Why did I trust a stranger on WhatsApp with my life savings?
Telling friends or family isn’t an option. If someone else shared this story with me, I’d think, that’s so dumb, how could they fall for it? I’d judge them harshly, and now I’m that person. It sends me into a downward spiral, questioning my intelligence, my worth. Being an international student already feels isolating, with the pressure to succeed and not burden anyone back home. This scam has amplified everything, leaving me broke and broken.
I’m trying to report it to the authorities, but the money’s gone, wired to who knows where. Maybe sharing this will help someone else avoid the same pain. If you’re reading this, please be cautious. Scams like this prey on hope and desperation. I wish I could turn back time, but all I can do now is pick up the pieces and rebuild, one painful step at a time. It’s going to take a while to forgive myself, but I have to try.
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PLEASE NOTE:
In the case of Scam Survivor’s Stories: The SCARS Institute displays this story to help recent scam victims. We are authorized to display this story and in this form or edition is copyright © Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. All rights reserved. The specific survivor’s identity has been anonymized for their protection. Photos are generated and are not of the real person.
In the case of the Criminal’s Stories: The SCARS Institute presents the Criminal Stories to assist scam victims in understanding that criminals are real individuals, despite their terrible actions, and we can gain valuable insights from their experiences to prevent crime and identify these schemes as they emerge. We aim to support victims and survivors in releasing the emotions they harbor toward the criminals, fostering a path toward potential forgiveness over time.
Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- SCARS Institute now offers a free recovery program at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors, please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish. Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors’ experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
SCARS Resources:
- Getting Started For New Victims of Relationship Scams: ScamVictimsSupport.org
- FREE enrollment in the SCARS Institute training programs for scam victims SCARSeducation.org
- Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
- Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
- Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
- Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
- Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
- Learn more about the Psychology of Scams and Scam Victims: ScamPsychology.org
- For Scam Victims Advocates: www.ScamVictimsAdvocates.org
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: International Suicide Hotlines – OpenCounseling : OpenCounseling
- Campaign To End Scam Victim Blaming – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
More Survivor Stories
More Criminal Stories
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and not to blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times, this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims; we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens, and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
SCARS Institute articles can help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org and www.ScamsNOW.com
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on SCARS Institute websites are for information & education only
The information provided in SCARS Institute articles is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair, please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.
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