Beware of WhatsApp Job Offer Scams – In recent months, thousands of users across India and beyond have fallen victim to the WhatsApp job offers scam, a growing online fraud that preys on job seekers with fake recruitment messages. These messages often promise high-paying roles, easy work-from-home opportunities, or international jobsโall designed to lure unsuspecting individuals into sharing personal details or sending money. Accompanied by suspicious international missed calls from numbers starting with codes like +88, +92, +254, or +84, these scams are often linked to the notorious Wangiri fraud, where a single-ring call tricks users into calling back premium-rate numbers. In this blog, weโll explain how the WhatsApp job offers scam works, why you should block and report these numbers immediately, and how to stay safe in the digital age.
How to Offer Job ?
You will first receive a WhatsApp message from an international number saying “How are you?”, If you reply, he will give you his introduction later
“Hello I am Arushi Iโm from the Delhi Promotion Department at ( Cutshort ). I am contacting you to advise you of a part-time position available to work frocm home. Can I share work and payment details?”
If you ask him for job details, he will message you again
Beware of WhatsApp Job Offer Scams
Scammer:
“Location’s restaurant : ITC MAURYA, Sardar Patel Marg, Akhaura Block, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110021”
โ
This job is just a 5 star rating โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ on Google Map.
โ
We pay you 120 rupees for one review. We will share 18 to 21 restaurants where you can earn up to 4000 – 6000 Rs.
โ
We Paytm, UPI, Google Pay, Phone Pay, or your preferred method after completing the task โก๏ธI am giving you 1 task and we pay 120 Rs after completing the task. May I know how old you are?
Okay, if you don’t mind may i know how old are you?
If you tell them that you are below 25 years of age they will tell you that they need someone who is 25 years older or above.
Which country are these numbers from?
These numbers may come from any VoIP based network. It is not mandatory to be a country code always.
So why does +92 trace to Pakistan, +88 to Bangladesh, +84 to Vietnam? They need not, spammers do it to portray their calls to be more authentic and believable.
There is +881, which is a mobile satellite service code, or +888 the telecommunications for disaster relief by OCHA etc. Like these are not exactly country codes and can be created for different purposes (helpline numbers, service numbers etc.), similarly +84 or +92 can still be used without calls actually coming from original countries.
What is a ‘Wangiri’ scam and how does it work?
New Zealanders have been targeted in a ‘Wangiri’ phone scam, where phone users miss calls that then cost big bucks to call back.
In simple words, when you make a call to a foreign country, you are utilizing an infrastructure owned by another country’s mobile network. You are charged international call rates, so your mobile provider can pay to use that foreign network to have your call connected.
During Wangiri scam, the scammer pretends to be a mobile phone network in another country, so any mobile users making calls to a number based in that “country” will be charged a high fee.
You’ll be fine so long as you don’t call back.
Which country code is +88
No country has designated +88 as their country code either. Various country codes start with +88 (dialed as 00 88 from many locations), but youโll need one extra digit. Bangladesh, on the other hand, has +880, and Taiwan has +886.
+880 โ Bangladesh
+881 โ Global Mobile Satellite System
+882 โ International Networks
+883 โ International Networks
+884 โ unassigned
+885 โ unassigned
+886 โ Taiwan
+887 โ unassigned
+888 โ Telecommunications for Disaster Relief by OCHA
+889 โ unassigned
Final Thoughts: Stay Alert, Stay Secure
The rise of WhatsApp job offers scams and international missed call frauds like the Wangiri scam is a serious threat in todayโs hyper-connected world. These scams prey on curiosity, urgency, and hopeโoften leaving victims emotionally and financially drained. Whether itโs a random job offer on WhatsApp or a missed call from a suspicious +88 or +254 number, always pause and verify before reacting.
Remember:
๐ซ Never share personal or financial details over WhatsApp or unknown links.
๐ซ Do not return missed calls from international numbers you donโt recognize.
โ
Report and block suspicious numbers immediately on your phone and through your mobile carrier or cybercrime portal.
Awareness is your first line of defense. Educate others, stay informed, and help break the chain of digital fraud.
Donโt be the next targetโbe the reason someone else avoids becoming a victim.
