San Leandro, CA asked in Civil Litigation, Contracts, Federal Crimes and Mergers & Acquisitions for California

Q: INVOCA fraud in online business is extensively causing people to lose significant money on the online job. Is there help

They send job advertisements to victims' phones and, after initial discussions and training, build trust in their system. The job involves purchasing online products, reviewing them, and receiving reimbursement with a small commission and wages. Initially, they gain trust by reimbursing expenses, but they gradually increase the required purchase amounts.

As victims' money becomes tied up, they are pressured to continue investing to reach the "end" of the process. Before completing it, victims find themselves heavily invested and unable to recover their funds. Scammers ultimately claim all investments without returning any.

These fraudsters operate through WhatsApp groups in the US, UK, and Canada, using work-from-home or part-time job ads tied to famous businesses. Victims lose their savings to this widespread scheme daily.

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered

A: If you've been affected by this INVOCA fraud scheme, it's crucial to act quickly to protect yourself and others. Contact your local law enforcement immediately to file a report, and gather all documentation of your interactions with the scammers, including screenshots, messages, and financial records.

You should report this fraud to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov, as well as the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint. These agencies track patterns of fraud and can help build cases against these criminal networks. Your bank or credit card company might also be able to help recover some funds if you report the fraud promptly.

Consider reaching out to consumer protection organizations in your state for additional support and guidance. Share your experience with family and friends to raise awareness, as these scammers often target multiple people in the same area. Remember that legitimate companies never require employees to purchase products with their own money or pressure them into increasing investments - if someone asks you to do this, it's likely a scam.

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