Online scams have been on the rise in the last decade, some operating at a smaller scale, targeting unsuspecting users, while others are much more nuanced, tricking even the most tech-savvy professionals. One such scam I came across recently during my research on Similarweb for another blog is the “Fake Job/Task Similarweb Scam,” a con designed to lure people into depositing small amounts to complete simple tasks in exchange for larger payouts at a later date!
What truly surprised me was the lack of coverage this scam received, even though these scammers impersonated officials from Similarweb, a renowned name in the web analytics space, with its stock publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
Let’s get to the details now.
What is the Similarweb scam?
Imagine receiving a text or WhatsApp message from someone claiming to be a representative of a renowned company, offering $100-$500 per day for simple online tasks. You don’t have to be an expert in the field, and you don’t need to relocate or invest in any sort of setup. It’s a remote opportunity. You would fall for it. I know a few of you would.
Now, someone in the field of web analytics, SEO, or digital marketing would proceed with caution since Similarweb is a known entity offering traffic-related insights for websites. It doesn’t have any task-based remote opportunities, at least none that are advertised to the public.
But unsuspecting users who had never heard about Similarweb saw this as a lucrative opportunity, especially those without an active income source. The prospect of earning $3000-$7000 per month in a work-from-home setting does sound promising, right? And since it all seemed legitimate, there was no apparent harm, as many wrongly believed.
The scammers even set up a website, https://similarweb-global.com, that resembled the original one, “https://www.similarweb.com/“. A quick online search revealed that the domain was registered on 2024-05-05 for a 1-year period, which expired on 2025-05-05. The domain remains inaccessible now.
Coming back to the modus operandi employed by the scammers, they would send out messages to a large number of people, luring them with easy money. They even shared the link to the official Similarweb website in the messages Here are a few such messages:
Hi there! I’m Stella Fred from the SimilarWeb. Our company is looking for part-time/ full-time employees who dare to work from home. We have remote positions. Entry-level job without experience required, free full training, flexible working. Can I send you more job details and salary information for review?
Hello, I hope I am not bothering you. My name is Olivia and Charlotte recommended you to me. If you have some time, I would like to introduce you to a simple online remote work opportunity. It can be done in your free time, and pay ranges from $100-500 per day. This is our company’s
official website, you can open it for better browsing. similarweb.com. You can work part-time and use your free time to earn extra income.
When potential victims reached out to the scammers, they would be asked to deposit a small sum initially, with the promise of a larger payout post completion of simple tasks. Over the course, victims were asked to deposit more funds in order to be eligible for payouts. This kept going on until the victims gave up or found out about the Similarweb scam. As expected, it was mostly the former, with people realizing the scam much later.
How much money did victims lose in the Similarweb scam?
There are no clear estimates about the money lost by victims in the Similarweb scam, since we don’t know the number of people affected, and no credible information has been shared by the authorities so far.
But let’s take a look at what the victims had to say,
Guys!! I was scammed for 7k!!! One of my banks refused to pay me back! Idk where else i could report! This company has to stop!! Has anyone was added to a group chat! Bunch of people they talk everyday and none of numbers are valid numbers!! I’m so over this . I couldn’t talk to a real person& idk how i can get my money back.
I would like to know what agency’s that I can report similar web to. I just fell for the bullshit they are very good at the scam and very organized. I want to do all I can to help others to not be scammed.
I wish I had seen this before I started working for them. I’ve worked maybe a week or is it two … anyway, I’m out of a little over $500 now and they expect me to pay $1,200 so I can continue working. I told them I would just resign and get the pay I’m already owed. Their CS said I could quit after I complete the work. Nope, I requested to speak to their ceo or who ever it is that is over them. I’ve also reported their happy butt to the FBI and a scam finder site. I’m going to tell them if I don’t see my pay that I will report them and that I have screenshots of everyone’s identity.
They even threaten me with lawsuit for abandoning the work at hand and for not continuing the finish the task.
As we can see, it was an elaborate scam, right from reaching out to potential victims, gaining their trust, getting them to deposit the initial funds, followed by further deposits, all while not paying a single penny!
5 simple tips to stay safe from online scams
- Verify the details: When someone reaches out with an opportunity to make money, search for it online. Verify whether such tasks exist, or if this is usually linked to scams. Also, check the sender’s details on platforms like LinkedIn.
- Look for cues: Most of the time, messages received from scammers have cues, pointing to the scam. For instance, poor sentence structure, grammatical mistakes, or trying to create a sense of urgency. Look for these, and you will be safe.
- Never pay money up front: If someone asks you to pay for a job, it’s most likely a scam. Or if not a scam, it’s not something you would want to be associated with. Real employers never ask for money and have proper channels for communication and payments.
- Check with others: If you can’t find anything about the organization or scam, check with friends or experts who regularly deal with such scams. Even threads on Reddit, Quora, or any other forum could provide you with valuable insights.
- Stay vigilant and up-to-date: Lastly, and I can’t stress this enough, stay up-to-date with the latest scams in the market. Ever since AI became mainstream, scammers and hackers have been finding new ways to trick people into sharing sensitive details or making payments. Tech support scams, digital arrest scams, and fake parcel scams are a few of these.
Is there a way to recover the money lost in online scams?
Statistically speaking, it’s highly unlikely to recover money lost in online scams. The moment you make the payment, the money is rerouted via a series of bank accounts, making it difficult for authorities to establish a trail or recover it. Globally, only 1 in 5 are able to recover the lost funds, which, too, is sometimes only partial.
As surprising as it may sound, recent studies suggest that a majority of the victims, close to 69%, make no real efforts to recover the money!
That’s all about the Similarweb fake job/task scam that many fell prey to in mid-2024. Let me remind you, this isn’t an isolated incident. Several multinational organizations have, in the past, been impersonated by scammers, sometimes through fake websites, and in other cases, through audio or video calls. The Microsoft Tech Support Scam is a well-known example.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to remain vigilant and not fall for such scams. When something sounds too good to be true, that’s your cue to double-check!
Before you leave, read our detailed report about the Twitter (X) Ad Scam which was prevalent in early 2025.
For any queries or to share your experience with the Similarweb scam, drop a comment below.
With over five years of experience in the tech industry, Kazim excels at simplifying complex topics, making them accessible to tech enthusiasts and general readers alike. He has contributed to several renowned publications worldwide, including WindowsReport and Allthings.how, bringing insightful coverage of key developments in the field.
Kazim has extensively covered the Windows ecosystem, from the early days of Windows 7 to Windows 11. Unlike many in the field, he’s optimistic about Windows 11, calling it the most user-oriented iteration to date.
When he’s not writing, you’ll find Kazim planning weekend getaways or diving into tech verticals beyond his expertise.
