Desperate for jobs, Kashmir’s youth are increasingly falling victim to a growing wave of online scams. Their harrowing experiences highlight the urgent need for digital literacy and vigilance in a region grappling with economic challenges, writes Syed Shadab Ali Gillani.
A growing number of Kashmiris, including recent graduate Bushra Shah from Srinagar, found themselves entangled in a web of online deception. While the story deconstructs the virtual crime syndicates, her experience serves as a warning about the dangers lurking in the digital world.
“It started with a Facebook ad in August 2023 promising an attractive job opportunity,” Shah recounts. However, this seemingly golden chance led her down a treacherous path.
After clicking the advertisement, Shah was directed to WhatsApp tasks and eventually a Telegram channel, promising substantial returns on investment. “They suggested investing just Rs 20, assuring a return of Rs 200; with each successful investment, the returns grew exponentially, luring me further into their trap,” she explains.
Initially, Shah saw success and continued to invest, unaware of the impending danger. It was only when she attempted to withdraw her earnings that the scammers started demanding taxes and fees.
“I paid taxes but they told me my account was frozen, requiring additional payments to unfreeze it. With limited resources, I could not invest more. Then they started texting me continuously on Telegram, asking for the required payment,” Shah recalled, losing Rs 1.3 lakh in the scheme. “That’s when I finally realised I had been scammed.”
The realisation of being a victim of fraud brought overwhelming guilt and stress, making it difficult for Shah to share the news with her family. “I struggled to share it with my family,” she said. “The depression was so intense that I couldn’t face my parents. I felt ashamed.”
With the support of her parents, however, Shah found the courage to report the incident to the cyber police station. After multiple visits, the authorities were able to recover Rs 84,000, providing some semblance of justice. “It took some time but they were helpful throughout the process,” she acknowledged.
Shah’s experience has taught her a valuable lesson. “This has been a profound wake-up call. I have a newfound vigilance and scepticism towards online transactions, and I vow to alert others as well.”
Shah’s experience is not an isolated incident, as others, like 22-year-old Sabir Rafiq from Anantnag, have also fallen victim to online swindles.
Digital Deceit
While scrolling through Instagram one day, Sabir received a follow request. “It was from a woman whose bio indicated she was from America,” he recalled. Shortly after, Sabir noticed a message request from the same account. “When I opened the message, it read, ‘It’s a great opportunity to earn.’”
Intrigued by the prospect of making money, Sabir, a student, decided to continue the conversation by asking for details, a response that would prove to be a significant mistake. “I thought I would be earning money, but I was wrong. What followed was something I had never imagined,” he shared.
The reply Sabir received should have raised suspicions, but he was too focused on the idea of earning his first paycheck. “The woman said I could earn US $1000 if I completed all the tasks given to me,” Sabir explained. The first task involved promoting skincare products, a job Sabir was willing to take on. “It seemed simple enough. They told me they would send the products, but to get started, I had to change my email ID to their company’s,” he said.
However, as soon as Sabir did this, his account was hacked. “The password was changed, and my profile was completely altered,” he stated. Bizarre posts were uploaded from his profile, leaving him shocked and alarmed.
As the situation unfolded, he found himself in a predicament he never anticipated. “I lost my five-year-old account to a scam because I wanted to make money. I got into a lot of trouble because of it,” he reflected. Sabir’s experience with online fraud has left him deeply shaken. “It made me rethink my choices,” he admitted.
Online Trap
These incidents highlight the tactics of online fraudsters who exploit job seekers and those seeking extra income. However, not everyone falls victim to such schemes.
Maleeha Sofi, 23, is one such individual who managed to avoid falling prey to an online scam.
While using WhatsApp, Maleeha received an unsolicited message. “Dear, I am an interviewer, and we have a great opportunity to share with you. Our company is offering an online part-time mission. You can earn between Rs 203 and Rs 10,000 depending on your task completion. This mission will not interfere with your other work, as the job is very simple. You can earn per day by rating places in India to increase their popularity in your spare time,” the message read.
Intrigued by the offer, Maleeha responded positively. The sender quickly provided her with the first task.
“The mission is simple, and you do not need to prepay. I will give you a training task to understand the flow. You will receive Rs 203 as your first commission. The commission will be paid to your bank account on the same day,” the text read.
Maleeha proceeded with the task, which was described as a ‘Training Mission’:
“Place Name: Taj Palace, New Delhi.
Place Link:
Copy this text or link and search on Google or Google Maps. Then complete your task by giving it a five-star review. Send me a screenshot of your success story. Then, you can withdraw your Rs 203 commission from the receptionist.”
This was followed by another message: “Have you completed the commission? Prove it with a screenshot,” accompanied by an example of a review.
Maleeha completed the task and sent the required screenshot to the anonymous sender. The response was prompt: “Now contact the receptionist and withdraw Rs 203 as your commission. She will transfer the money to your bank account.”
The message continued: “Send your verification code to the receptionist. She will pay you the Rs 203 commission. You can also earn more by requesting additional tasks from her. Good luck. After you receive the payment, send me a screenshot of the transaction.”
The instructions were clear: “Here is your verification code: XHJ87642. Here is your receptionist’s Telegram link: ZZZZZ. Here is your receptionist’s Telegram username: @Arlene00792. Send ‘My code is: XHJ87642’ to the receptionist,” the final messages read.
Unlike Bushra and Sabir, who proceeded with the financial transaction and suffered losses, Maleeha was interrupted by a timely phone call from her cousin.
Her cousin warned her about the prevalence of online job scams. “She told me how her friend lost all her bank balance after clicking on a Telegram link,” Maleeha recounted. She decided not to click on the link and immediately blocked the number. “I am glad I did not fall victim to the scam,” she said.
With rising unemployment in Kashmir, work-from-home and earning-from-home opportunities, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, have provided some respite to the local population. The well-read youth who have not been able to secure jobs are looking for opportunities virtually.
However, Kashmir has recently seen a surge in online crimes, particularly fraud. The biggest online scam in the region’s history was recently exposed, highlighting the prevalence of such cons and the unpreparedness of many locals to deal with them.
According to officials at the Cyber Police Department, the number of online crimes in Kashmir has seen a significant and alarming increase. Recently it recovered more than Rs 1.5 lakh in Kupwara alone. In 2022, it said it prevented Rs 1,55,83,923 from being swindled.
In Lok Sabha, the government revealed recently that for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a marked uptick in both incidents and arrests related to cybercrime, though convictions have remained notably low. The cases registered were 120 in 2020, 154 in 2021, and 173 in 2022. But the charge sheets were being submitted to the court with the same pace. In 2020, only 14 cases were charge-sheeted, with the number increasing to 49 in 2021 and reaching 53 in 2022. However, cyber-stalking and harassment remained sporadic. No cases were reported in 2018 or 2020, while only one case was registered in 2019 and another in 2022. In 2021, the region saw a slight rise, with six cases reported.
The Need for Digital Literacy
These are the periods of transition. “The technology came so fast that people did not realise,” one amused and voracious technology user said. “The cell phone initially to communicate and within years it consumed almost a room full of devices. And finally, it is not only the bank, it is an identity also and that will take some time for the user to understand.”
Sheikh Asif, a Srinagar-based IT and cyber security specialist, has observed a growing trend of online scams in Kashmir, driven by rising unemployment. “People are desperately seeking money-making opportunities, often looking for shortcuts. This makes them easy targets for scammers,” he explained.
Discussing the modus operandi of these scams, Asif noted that the process typically begins with victims being asked to review or like certain profiles or posts on social media. They are then redirected to platforms like Telegram, which offer enhanced privacy features that shield the scammers. “Another tactic involves using fake certificates and acknowledgements to appear more credible,” he added.
Asif highlighted a worrying trend in Kashmir, where the allure of easy money is becoming increasingly common. “People are drawn to the idea of earning money with minimal effort, and scammers exploit this mentality,” he said. “People need to understand, there are no free lunches around.” One of the most common tactics involves presenting online jobs as money-doubling schemes. Once victims are ensnared, they are often manipulated into recruiting others.
Asif, who regularly deals with online job scams, emphasised the importance of vigilance. “Many people think filling out a form is harmless, but some entities sell this data on the black market, giving scammers access to personal information, particularly contact numbers,” he explained.
“If someone asks you to fill out a form, make a payment, or join a Telegram channel to receive money, it should raise red flags,” he stressed the need for thorough verification before engaging with any online offer. “Legitimate businesses conduct official communications through email.”
Asserting that genuine companies typically have established websites and use email addresses with their domain names. “These scammers are well-versed in human psychology, so it is crucial to be cautious,” Asif warned. He also pointed out that job-providing platforms like LinkedIn and Internshala are not immune to such scams. “It is vital to verify the authenticity of any job offer. Always check the basic details of these websites or companies online,” he said.
Asif often assists victims of online scams by tracing transactions and helping to recover lost funds. He asserted the need for digital literacy, urging educated individuals to conduct background checks and research before proceeding with any online engagement.“We need to learn how to use social media platforms responsibly and understand how digital media works,” he said.
Cyber Scams And The Unemployment Crisis
In 2020, a man from South Kashmir was arrested for allegedly defrauding women by promising them jobs through various social media platforms. The accused reportedly extorted significant sums of money from these women. In a separate incident, a man from Anantnag, who claimed to be a journalist, was apprehended by the police after complaints surfaced that he had scammed vulnerable individuals seeking employment.
Cyber Police officials in Jammu and Kashmir have identified online job scams as one of the most prevalent forms of cybercrime in the region. They assert their commitment to addressing these crimes and assisting victims in recovering their lost funds. “We have received more than 300 complaints so far, and in some cases, we have lodged FIRs, while in others, settlements have been reached,” an official said. The officials also urged the public to exercise caution online: “We always want people to be more aware in the online or cyberspace. Never share any OTPs or personal information with anyone.”
Jammu and Kashmir currently ranks third in unemployment in India, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). The region’s unemployment rate has surged to 23.1 per cent, a figure that places it on a trajectory towards the highest rate in the country. Recent data from the Labour and Employment Department indicates that around eight lakh people are registered as unemployed in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reported in the Rajya Sabha session of 2023 that the unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir has been steadily rising and now stands at 18.3 per cent, significantly higher than the national average of approximately 8 per cent. While recent estimates for the unemployment rate among the educated are unavailable, a survey conducted between July 2020 and June 2021 revealed that the unemployment rate among individuals aged 15-29 in Jammu and Kashmir was 18.3 per cent, according to the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai.
Irfan Attari Kashmiri, a social activist, writer, and president of the Kashmir-based NGO Foundation for Youth Web, who is also studying cybersecurity, called for vigilance. “If anyone is involved in any type of fraud or scam, we should name and shame them, expose them so that they do not continue to loot people. We need to protect our youth in Kashmir. If we start exposing these scammers, it will send a strong message to other youth in Kashmir that they should refrain from indulging in such unethical activities,” he said.
Education and Self-Reliance
Stressing the importance of education and technological literacy, an advocate urged the public to avoid shortcuts in the pursuit of financial gain. “If you need to earn money and make a living, work hard. Working hard is the only solution. These schemes and online shortcuts are of no use. They will destroy you financially,” he said.
He further called for collective action against those involved in scams: “People who are involved in these scams, we should stand up against them together. If we are well educated, why do we not use that education? Why do we not use our intellect and our wits before clicking on any type of link? We should always research things.”
Highlighting the importance of involving authorities, he added, “If you see something suspicious or you get scammed, inform law enforcement.”
Community Participation
Sheikh Hafsa, a 26-year-old doctor who has shifted her focus to entrepreneurship, shared her perspective on the employment challenges faced by Kashmir’s youth. “My initial thought at returning after completing my MBBS was that there are not a lot of job opportunities available for the youth of Kashmir,” she said.
Realising the difficulty in securing a job, particularly for candidates without any category or reservation, Hafsa decided to start her own business. “It is going very well,” she reported.
Hafsa expressed her commitment to generating employment not just for herself but for others as well. “I have realised that it is very important for me to generate employment opportunities for not just myself but for other people as well, like tailors, delivery drivers, and other members of my team,” she said, “I wanted to inspire other people too.”
Reflecting on the broader context of Kashmir, she noted, “Where you realise that there are very few job opportunities, there are only two ways: either move out or create an enterprise for yourself. I realised that and chose to stand on my own two feet.”
The Role of Entrepreneurship
On the importance of effort and strategy in financial ventures, Sheikh Hafsa emphasised the need for both hard work and smart work. “Start investing money in something more productive, because ultimately it is luck—sometimes you get scammed and sometimes it is genuine,” she acknowledged.
Owais Shafi, another entrepreneur from Srinagar in Central Kashmir, highlighted the critical role of entrepreneurship in creating job opportunities for the region’s youth. “It not only provides job opportunities but also fosters economic growth and development in the region. Firstly, entrepreneurship allows young people to create their own job opportunities instead of relying on the limited government or almost negligible private sector jobs available in Kashmir,” he said.
In a region with a high unemployment rate and limited industrial activity, the significance of entrepreneurship is even more pronounced. “Secondly, entrepreneurship promotes innovation and creativity, which are essential skills for the youth to thrive in the modern job market,” Shafi noted.
Shafi further explained that by starting their businesses, young people can contribute to the local economy by developing new products and services. “Our economy is largely agrarian, with 30 lakh people directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture and horticulture. Innovation and value addition in these sectors can solve many of our problems, with unemployment being just one of them,” he explained.
“There are no shortcuts to earning money or making it in life. We just need to provide our youth with the right opportunities and support. There is no dearth of talent in Kashmir. We just need to set the platform right for our youngsters to perform well,” Shafi concluded.
