Fact Check: Viral message about Nataraj offering WFH jobs for packaging pencils is a fraud
A message in Telugu offering a job of packaging Nataraj pencils from home is going viral in several Facebook groups.
A message in Telugu offering a job of packaging Nataraj pencils from home is going viral in several Facebook groups. The message claims that a part-time job of packaging Nataraj pencils is available for those interested. The work can be done from home and those taking it up will be paid Rs 30,000. The WhatsApp number to be contacted to get the job was also listed but it seemed to be changing from one post to the other.
The claim goes as: “నటరాజ్ పెన్సిల్ ప్యాకింగ్ ఉద్యోగం, ఇంటి నుండి పని. పార్ట్ టైమ్ ఉద్యోగం. నెలకు 30000 జీతం. పని కోసం పురుషులు మరియు మహిళలు అత్యవసరంగా అవసరం. నా వాట్సాప్ నంబర్ 9387726058 మాత్రమే”
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.facebook.com/
Fact Check:
The claim is false. It is a hoax message luring innocent people and scamming them.
When we performed a keyword search, we found several results proving that the message is a scam. Firstly, while observing the messages carefully, we found the phone numbers were different in different posts and also there is no communicating address or signature of any official belonging to the Nataraj pencil company.
We also found a tweet by Siddipet Commissioner of Police posted in 2022 stating clearly that these ads are fraud.
When searched further, we found other videos uploaded on YouTube, explaining the process of the fraud and how the fraudster is convincing the callers to pay him certain money to get the job. In a video uploaded on YouTube channel Tech Capital, a person even called the concerned fraudster and proved that it is an online fraud.
When we searched for Nataraj pencils online, we found that these pencils are products of a company named Hindustan Pencils Pvt Limited in Mumbai, India. The website of the company opens with a video refuting the claims made on social media. It clearly stated that it is not offering any such jobs online. It also explained that the whole process of manufacturing and packaging has no human interference.
It also posted the disclaimer video on its Facebook page.
Hence, the post claiming that Nataraj is offering work-from-home jobs is a FRAUD message. The claim is false.