Scammers in Azerbaijan Lure Victims with Fake Free Training Offers on Instagram

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A rising scam trend in Azerbaijan involves fraudsters advertising free courses and career opportunities on Instagram, attracting users with promises of no-cost training in fields where courses typically cost over 200 AZN. Once victims make contact, scammers use social engineering tactics — psychological manipulation rather than technical hacking — to build trust and extract money or personal data. A common method involves phishing links that redirect victims to convincing fake websites designed to steal login credentials. In one documented case, a so-called free financial training course eventually demanded payment for a certificate, with the fee collected via a personal bank card rather than a formal payment system. Experts advise watching for red flags such as vague responses, AI-generated content, artificial urgency, and unofficial payment methods as warning signs of fraud.

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