JS Interactive Task Scam Alert: Protect Yourself from Fraudulent Job Offers

Imitation is the highest form of flattery – until you’ve been cheated out of your hard-earned money. Or your brand has been tarnished because someone has taken your name and your image and used it to scam people out of their time and money.

The Internet is rife with scammers, and nobody is immune from falling victim to their schemes. Unfortunately, my name and brand, JS Interactive, have fallen victim to job scams.

These task scams are designed to steal people’s money by promising them non-existent jobs and requiring victims to pay money upfront to keep their accounts active and receive their paychecks.

My team and I would never ask you to pay money to work for us or contact you outside our business channels to discuss job opportunities or partnerships.

Please allow me to explain precisely what is going on with these task scammers.  I want to help you protect yourself from falling victim to them.

JS Interactive News: Task Scam Warning

Job scams are a dime a dozen. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), between 2019 and 2023, cases of “business and job opportunity” fraud nearly tripled from roughly 38,000 to 107,000.

As of Q1 of 2024, there have been 27,403 reports of business and job fraud, and the total amount of money lost to these types of scams has now reached roughly $134.0 million.

I refuse to try to bury and negate the fact that scammers are out there using my name and company as bait to take hard-earned money from people simply looking for a job opportunity.

JS Interactive is a reputable digital marketing agency with over 60 years of combined experience. We are a full-service agency that offers a wide range of digital marketing services to help our clients reach their goals.

Because of this, scammers are using our brand name and images to lure unsuspecting people into their traps.

The scam came to light when numerous individuals contacted me inquiring about the legitimacy of their job offers. These individuals were skeptical about the offers and sought direct confirmation from the company. This influx of queries alerted me to the ongoing scam, prompting an internal investigation and public warning.

How the JS Interactive Task Scam Works

As online job scams become more sophisticated, knowing how these fraudsters operate is crucial. The recent JS Interactive LLC scam is a prime example of how scammers can exploit individuals seeking remote job opportunities.

I’ve been fortunate enough to speak with several individuals who have unfortunately fallen victim to this scam.  They have graciously helped me better understand how the scam works.

Here’s what we know so far:

The Initial Contact

Victims receive unsolicited messages via WhatsApp or Telegram from unknown numbers claiming to represent JS Interactive.

These messages often come from professional-looking profiles with convincing job titles and our company logo to appear legitimate.

Their Persuasive Tactics

The scammers provide detailed job descriptions that outline simple tasks with high salary offers.

They promise attractive benefits such as flexible working hours and remote work opportunities to entice potential victims.

For example, they might offer a monthly salary of $3,450, supplemented by daily commissions ranging from $150 to $250, making the total monthly payout appear very appealing.

Information Requests

Once interest is shown, the scammers direct victims to register on a fraudulent website that mimics a legitimate job portal.

This is a FAKE portal! DO NOT REGISTER HERE!

Victims are asked to provide personal information, including their name, address, phone number, and sometimes bank details.

In more advanced stages, scammers might ask victims to deposit funds in a BitGet Wallet, claiming it is necessary for the job tasks.

Others may request direct connections to bank accounts under the pretense of setting up salary payments or processing commissions.

4 Red Flags to Watch Out For

We would all like to think that we are “too smart” to be taken advantage of by scammers.  However, as more people work remotely, the chances of being targeted by a scam are more significant than ever.

While we have outlined a few of the details of the task scam that has targeted our business and those looking for work in our industry, it is essential to note that the details of the fraud are fluid and can change at any time.

Here are four of the current red flags that you should be aware of when looking for work online:

1. Unsolicited Messages from Unknown Contacts

Receiving unsolicited messages from unknown contacts can be a major red flag. Scammers often reach out through personal messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or even email.

Fake messages get through spam filters daily. It is essential to verify the identity of your contacts before responding to any messages that you are unsure about.

2. Profiles with Limited or Suspicious Information

Always scrutinize the profiles of those who contact you with job offers. Fake profiles often have minimal information and lack credibility.

Not quite sure what to look for? Here are some key indicators of a fake profile:

• Incomplete professional history or missing details.
• A profile picture that appears generic or is used on multiple profiles.
• Contact information that cannot be verified through a quick online search.
• Profiles that are in ‘non-English’
• Profiles that use choppy language or gibberish

3. Job Offers That Seem Too Good to Be True

If a job offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers attract victims with promises of high salaries and minimal work. The best way to avoid this scam is to know the warning signs of fake job offers, including:

• Offers of exceptionally high pay for relatively simple tasks.
• Promises of large bonuses, commissions, or benefits that seem disproportionate to the job description.
• Immediate job offers without any interview or vetting process.

4. Requests to Sign Up on Dubious Websites

Scammers often direct potential victims to register on fraudulent websites that mimic legitimate job portals. Be on the lookout for the following red flags:

• URLs that look suspicious or differ slightly from the company’s official website.
• Websites that ask for excessive personal information such as your Social Security number, bank details, or passport number.
• Instructions to install software or applications as part of the job application process.

This is Our Company URL: https://js-interactive.com/

Below are URLs used in the scam (most of which we’ve managed to track down and report):

https://js-pdinteractiveexplores.com
https://js-analyzeusers.com
https://jsavagotictoc.com/
https://js-pdinteractiveexplores.com/#/pages/content/content?title=Legal%20and%20Certificate&key=certificate
https://jsengine.cc/#/
https://js-interactive-technology.com/
https://js-interactive-us.com/#/pages/login/login
https://js-pdinteractivesupport.com

Note: As more of these are reported, we will continue to take proactive measures to remove them.

How to Protect Yourself

Protecting yourself from job scams requires vigilance and proactive measures. Here’s how you can safeguard your personal and financial information:

Verify the Source

Always research the company and the person contacting you. Check the official company website and use professional networking sites like LinkedIn to verify the recruiter’s identity.

For example, if a recruiter claims to represent JS Interactive, visit their official website and look up the recruiter on LinkedIn to confirm their legitimacy.

Don’t Share Personal Information

Avoid sharing sensitive information like your Social Security number, bank details, or passport number with unknown contacts. Legitimate companies will not ask for such details through informal communication channels.

If a job offer requires extensive personal information before an interview, consider it a significant red flag.

Set Up Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication

Use strong, unique passwords for your accounts and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. This adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for scammers to access your accounts.

A password manager can help you generate and store strong passwords securely.

Monitor Financial Statements

Review your bank and credit card statements regularly for unauthorized transactions. Early detection can help prevent further fraudulent activity.

Set up alerts with your bank to receive notifications of unusual transactions.

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed

Taking immediate action can help minimize the damage if you become a victim of a scam:

Contact Your Bank

Immediately contact your bank or financial institution to report the scam. They can stop transactions, freeze accounts, and help recover lost funds.

Provide your bank with all the scam details to assist in their investigation.

Report to Authorities

Report the scam to authorities such as the FTC, local police, or your country’s cybercrime division. This will help track and potentially catch the scammers.

Use official websites and contact numbers to report scams and avoid sharing details on public forums, including:

• The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): https://complaint.ic3.gov/
• Google’s Report Phishing Page: https://safebrowsing.google.com/safebrowsing/report_phish/
• The Federal Trade Commission: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

Change Passwords

Change the passwords of any compromised accounts and ensure all your accounts are secure. Use different passwords for different accounts and enable two-factor authentication.

Check for unauthorized access to your email and other important accounts, as scammers may try to exploit any information they have obtained.

Team Up with JS Interactive to Protect Against Job and Task Scams

Being vigilant and proactive is crucial in today’s digital landscape to protect yourself from scams like the JS Interactive task scam. You can safeguard your personal and financial information by recognizing the warning signs and following protective measures.

We encourage you to share this information to help others avoid similar scams. If you encounter a scam, report it to the appropriate authorities and seek help immediately. We also encourage you to report any suspicious activity to JS Interactive.

If you were a victim of this scam or have more information about it, please contact us today so we can work together to prevent others from falling victim to this or other scams.