As people explore new directions in their careers, many require additional training. In today's world, such education can be obtained online through educational platforms that offer a variety of courses and seminars. To enhance their qualifications, people are willing to use them as it is quite convenient to receive education and additional knowledge from the comfort of home.
In this situation, various types of scammers inevitably appear, trying to deceive with fake courses.
Online Course Scams
If internet users dream of acquiring additional knowledge about investments, for example, to earn extra income, they will likely start searching for courses through social media advertisements. Often, such ads for investors hide fraudulent schemes.
In this situation, swindlers offer short-term courses or training sessions that promise astronomical earnings in the shortest time possible. If the victim is ready for such training, scammers typically operate in a way that requires a prepayment for lessons, after which they cut off all contact and, naturally, conduct no lessons.
If scammers are playing big and want to extract as much money as possible from the client, they organize an initial lesson where they supposedly explain the basics of trading, for instance, organizing trading on an exchange using a demo version where all data is fake and shows daily profit increases. After that, they will suggest investing a large sum for further earnings, fake reports of high profits will be organized, but these cannot be withdrawn because the money will be stolen.
Fraud on Educational Platforms
With the popularity of online education, numerous new fraudulent schemes in this field are emerging, with the two most common methods being:
- providing low-quality educational services;
- complete refusal to conduct training courses after receiving money.
In the case of low-quality services, scammers offer the future client the indisputable advantage of an online course by confirming with:
- fake reviews;
- video files;
- photos;
- fake certificates or diplomas.
After this, the convinced client signs a contract and pays for future services. The next step is that scammers provide fake materials, usually hastily downloaded from the internet. Subsequently, additional payments appear, allegedly for upcoming tests, exams, and more. In this case, the result is negative; the buyer did not receive additional knowledge, but spent significant money on fake education.
In the case of selling non-existent online courses, the fraudulent puzzle comes together faster and easier. A person is offered to purchase online courses that are:
- advertised in the best possible way;
- have professional teachers;
- sold at the most favorable price;
- even a contract is signed.
After paying for the courses, the fraudsters disappear, blocking all communication channels. In this case, the client receives neither educational materials nor money.
Fraud Through Training
Scammers invent various ways to lure victims into fake courses, even offering methods like a pyramid scheme. In this case, it doesn't matter what education the client wants to receive; they are offered to register in a project, pay a certain amount, and create a referral link that supposedly allows constantly attracting other users. After paying the subscription and creating such a link, no training occurs.
The scheme is that participants need to constantly attract new users and distribute links; the more users there are, the more income for the scammers. Each user additionally pays for fake courses, allowing scammers to profit.
Scammers use social media advertising to attract students to online courses on cryptocurrency earnings. An advertisement video is created, not without the participation of artificial intelligence, where a fake image of a famous person, artist, blogger, singer, or politician is created. They talk about the effectiveness of the proposed course.
There are video files where, supposedly, a trading course instructor on cryptocurrency managed to earn huge sums in a short period and acquire a luxurious house on warm islands, a car, and other joys of life.
By luring clients to courses, the scammer simply collects payment but provides no useful information.
If you truly decide to get additional education online, be vigilant and attentive.
When choosing courses, check the platforms offering training:
- the professionalism of the teachers;
- availability of special authorizing documents;
- does the company provide diplomas and certificates upon course completion;
- do they offer a first free trial lesson to interest the client.