Ontario woman seeking part-time work 'living in a nightmare' after losing $395,000 to job scam
An Ontario woman looking for a part-time job is devastated after losing hundreds of thousands of dollars to an employment scam.
"It's very difficult right now, and I feel like I'm living a nightmare," said a Toronto woman, who asked CTV News Toronto to refer to her as Imran.
Imran said she was looking to make some extra money and found a part-time job on social media that claimed she could make up to $400 an hour.
The supposed job entailed working with software and optimizing apps, but Imran said she was told to put down some of her money first to prove she was a real person, not a bot.
Initially, she said she paid $700 toward the company's platform and watched the amount grow to about $1,700. Imran said she could withdraw some of the money, so she thought it was a legitimate company.
But, Imran said it became almost impossible to withdraw funds from the platform over time.
"To get the money out, you need to put in more to finish the set of applications. When I would finish, I found out they were stalling the withdrawals," said Imran.
Over a few months, she said she was told to deposit more money, and she did. Imran says she put down $395,000 of her own money, thinking her account had grown to over US$605,000.
But, in the end, she could not take any of the money out and lost the entire $395,000, adding she borrowed $250,000 from family and friends.
"For someone to go through this, this is so devastating. I never want this to happen to someone else," said Imran.
CTV News Toronto was also contacted by a Toronto student who said he was involved in a similar job scam.
"I would tell them I need the money back. Why don't you give me the money back?" Danillo Pekoh said.
Pekoh said he also started putting in small amounts of money and could withdraw some of it, but after he deposited $1,700, his account was frozen, and he could not remove the funds.
"It means a lot because that's my hard-earned money, and that was money I was saving to pay for my tuition," said Pekoh.
According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), 1,230 victims lost $4,948,849 to job scams in 2022. So far in 2023, 592 victims have lost $2,712,390 to employment scams.
The CAFC says job scams are now a growing problem.
"There is a new variation of the job scam we've been keeping an eye on," said Jeff Horncastle with CAFC. "If they offer you a position very quickly and there is no interview, that should be a huge red flag."
Some other warning signs are if they ask for personal information and banking details upfront, advertise as a basic job with high pay, and ask for money in advance.
Another red flag is that all communication is on chat apps without phone calls or face-to-face meetings.
Imran said she hoped to make extra money but now has no idea how she'll get out of debt after losing $395,000 to the scam.
"It's just so devastating, and it's like everything we had is now gone, and we are starting over," said Imran.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Post strike: Union 'extremely disappointed' in latest offer, negotiator says
A negotiator for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) says the latest offer from Canada Post to end the ongoing strike shows the carrier is moving in the "opposite direction."
Canada's air force took video of object shot down over Yukon, updated image released
The Canadian military has released more details and an updated image of the unidentified object shot down over Canada's Yukon territory in February 2023.
Invasive species could be hiding in your Christmas decor. Here's how to stop the spread
Make sure to look through your holiday decorations, as Christmas trees, wreaths, and other natural decor can have invasive insects, eggs, and plants that pose a threat to local ecosystems and the economy.
Sask. doctor facing professional charges in circumcision case
A Saskatoon doctor has been accused of unprofessional conduct following a high-cost adult circumcision that included a request for the patient to text unsecured post-op pictures of his genitals.
Notre Dame reopens its doors to Macron and other world leaders in a rare symbol of unity
France's iconic Notre Dame Cathedral is formally reopening its doors on Saturday for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019.
'Shameful': Monument honouring fallen soldiers included names of living veterans
Veterans are asking for answers after discovering that two sculptures in Ontario honouring fallen soldiers include the names of many people who are very much alive.
Man arrested after 16-hour standoff with Barrie police seeks to be released from custody
The 43-year-old man taken to hospital in distress following a 16-hour armed standoff with Barrie police last month is seeking bail.
Northern Ontario man sentenced for killing his dog
WARNING: This article contains graphic details of animal abuse which may be upsetting to some readers. A 40-year-old northern Ontario man is avoiding prison after pleading guilty to killing his dog earlier this year.
Calgary company steps up to help grieving family with free furnace after fatal carbon monoxide poisoning
A Calgary furnace company stepped up big time Friday to help a Calgary family grieving the loss of a loved one.