The Fake Work-From-Home Job That Took My Money
My first online scam story began with a fake work-from-home job offer on Viber. It seemed legit until they asked me to send money. Here’s how it happened and what I learned.
They say the first time you get scammed is the hardest. For me, it wasn’t just a financial loss, it was a loss of trust.
This is the story of my first scam experience, and I hope by sharing this, I can help at least one person avoid the same mistake.
One day, I received a message from someone claiming to be an HR rep from Lazada. She offered me a part-time work-from-home job where I could earn money daily by liking product pages.
I thought to myself, “It’s so simple. Just like items on Lazada? Easy money!”
At first, it was believable. They even sent a ‘welcome bonus’ via GCash after I completed a simple task. I received it immediately. That’s how they gain your trust.
But soon, the tasks became more complex. They said that if I sent money, they’d double it, like an investment.
- First, it was a small amount.
- Then, they said I needed to complete “subtasks” by sending more money.
- If I didn’t complete all the tasks, they would not release any payout at all.
- They even warned: “If you stop midway, you forfeit the money you already sent.”
And just like that, I was trapped.
I sent more and more, hoping to finish the task and get my money back, only to realize there would always be “one more step”.
To make it worse, they added me to a group chat with people who claimed they successfully received their payouts.
- There were screenshots of big earnings.
- People were commenting, “Thank you for the bonus!”
- It looked real.
But it was all part of the act. Those group members? Fake accounts. They were there to convince newcomers like me that the system worked.
I never got my money back. It was a significant amount, one I worked hard for. And worse, I felt so ashamed that I believed them. Until now, I still receive messages just like this. Sometimes I reply, calling them out. Other times, I just ignore or block them. But every time I see a new message, I think: “How many people will fall for this today?”
It’s easy to get tempted, especially if it is easy money. But I learned that anything that asks you to send money to earn more money is a big red flag.
Here are my takeaways:
- ✅ Legit employers never ask for money up front.
- ✅ Don’t be pressured by promises of double returns.
- ✅ Screenshots and group chats can be faked.
- ✅ Never send money to people you don’t fully know or trust.
- ✅ Report and block suspicious numbers immediately.
To the Scammers:
You prey on people’s needs and good intentions. You manipulate trust. You deceive. You steal. You may think you’re smart, but you’re simply hurting others. I believe in karma. And in time, what you do will return to you.
To My Readers: Please Stay Safe
If you’ve ever been scammed, you are not alone. It doesn’t make you stupid. It makes you human. Let’s continue to raise awareness and protect one another from these traps. And if you ever receive a suspicious message like this—trust your gut.
“Scammers don’t steal money—they steal trust. And trust is harder to earn back than cash.”
— Karen Kheaye
Have you experienced being scammed too? You can share it in the comments.
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Karen Kheaye 
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