Countless people around the world are experiencing economic strain. It’s no surprise that cybercriminals are ready to take advantage of this situation. In fact, they’re using a unique social engineering tactic to gain your trust and steal your money.

In a recent scam, cybercriminals claim you can earn cash by simply liking YouTube videos. To convince you that the job is legitimate, they send you a few dollars after your first day of “work.” Later, you’ll be offered an opportunity to join an exclusive list of VIPs who make even more money. Of course, you’ll have to invest to become a VIP. How much? Up to $1,000. Once paid, you can expect the cybercriminals to take the money and run.

Follow these tips to stay safe from similar scams:

• Be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true. Cybercriminals will use unrealistic offers to lure you into their scams.
• This attack exploits the excitement and hope of earning easy money. Don’t let cybercriminals play with your emotions.

Legitimate businesses will never ask you to pay money to get a job. Anyone who asks you to do so is trying to scam you.

Remember: People with knowledge are the best defense against fraud.