Summary: An elaborate job scam in Bangladesh preyed on workers hoping for stable online income through OpenAI-branded platforms. Exploiting trust in AI-related opportunities, scammers orchestrated a fraudulent crypto-based job scheme that vanished overnight, leaving thousands financially devastated. This post dissects how fraudsters manipulated workers, the scale of the damage, and the broader implications for online work security.
False Promises of Stable Work and Crypto Returns
A Bangladeshi worker thought they'd secured a promising opportunity—online tasks with OpenAI's branding, offering steady pay and a pathway to financial growth through cryptocurrency. The structured nature of the job, facilitated through a ChatGPT-branded app and Telegram, created an illusion of legitimacy. Workers performed simple tasks on a website called "OpenAi-etc" while investing their own crypto, lured by daily profit projections.
For months, recruits carried out assigned tasks while earning incremental returns on their invested funds. Mentors, posing as OpenAI representatives, played an active role in reinforcing the legitimacy of the platform. Encouraging larger investments and team expansion, they urged workers to recruit friends and family, growing the operation by thousands.
Hierarchy and Deeper Financial Commitments
As the network expanded, the scammers imposed a structured hierarchy among brokers based on seniority and recruitment success. This method intensified psychological commitment to the scheme, making it harder for participants to walk away. By the time the scam reached full momentum, over 150 team members had contributed to a collective fund of approximately $50,000 in cryptocurrency.
Exploiting workers' trust with social incentives, the fraudsters maximized the perceived credibility of their operation. Even in the wake of a devastating cyclone hitting Bangladesh in May 2024, the group behind "OpenAi-etc" claimed to provide financial assistance to affected employees—deepening the illusion of authenticity. For many, this act cemented faith in the platform, leading them to invest further.
Vanishing Overnight—Financial Ruin for Thousands
Then, on the morning of August 29, 2024, reality shattered. The website disappeared, along with all associated Telegram chats and personnel. With no warning, the entire "OpenAi-etc" operation had collapsed, taking every invested dollar with it. Thousands of workers awoke to find themselves victims of an orchestrated fraud.
By the time complaints reached the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the damage was apparent. At least 11 formal allegations were submitted, pointing to an estimated 6,000 affected individuals across Bangladesh. Victims spanned from teenagers to middle-aged professionals, including schoolteachers and workers who had invested their life savings. One individual described being in "great economic crisis" after losing both capital and promised earnings.
OpenAI, Telegram, and the Lingering Questions
While both OpenAI and Telegram acknowledged awareness of the scam, accountability remains uncertain. Telegram, a platform historically scrutinized for its role in facilitating fraudulent schemes, claims ongoing moderation efforts to police harmful scams. Meanwhile, OpenAI distances itself from unauthorized use of its branding, though this case underscores the growing risks of bad actors exploiting recognizable names in AI.
The perpetrators behind "OpenAi-etc" remain unknown, and the full financial loss across all affected individuals is still being assessed. Without answers, thousands of victims are left struggling with the aftermath of the deception, while digital job scams continue to evolve in sophistication.
The Takeaway—Recognizing the Red Flags
This case serves as a stark reminder of the risks tied to online job opportunities involving financial investment. Job seekers should remain wary of any platform requiring upfront crypto deposits in exchange for work. Verified employers do not demand payment from workers nor operate through anonymous messaging apps like Telegram.
Increasing global access to digital work has undeniably created career opportunities, but it has also opened doors for fraud on an unprecedented scale. As scams grow in complexity, vigilance and scrutiny are more important than ever.
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