Even if a person accidentally becomes a drop, he may face financial losses and criminal liability.
Financial losses are possible, since the scammers first receive money from victims using drops, and then, disappearing, they can, if bank details are provided, take out a loan for the drop or withdraw his personal funds. In addition, after realizing the fact of fraud, the victims can challenge their operations to transfer funds, and if the transaction is ultimately considered invalid, the drop will have to return the funds (which he has already transferred to the scammer), the expert explains.
There is also a risk of criminal liability: the dropper may be recognized as a fraudster and thus held accountable for the crime committed by the fraudster. As a result, the punishment may range from a fine to list of real mobile number database imprisonment, depending on the severity of the crime, notes Akhrameeva.
How to avoid falling for scammers' tricks and becoming a drop
"First of all, you should never, under any circumstances, give your bank details to third parties. Including relatives/friends. You should be wary of the very request to give such data," the expert warns.
You need to carefully study the job offer, especially if you don't have to do practically anything and they pay well - after all, there is no such thing as a free lunch, explains Akhrameeva. In particular, you need to carefully study the reviews about the employer and not ignore the negative ones.
"If you see an attractive vacancy, the salary can charm and cloud your mind, so it is better to take a screenshot of this vacancy and wait a few days. Often, such attractive vacancies quickly disappear, and the ad appears with another employer, under a different name and with different contacts," the expert says.