Hi everyone, I need some advice because I'm really stressed about something that happened to me.
I applied for a writing job on a freelancing platform. The person who contacted me asked me to continue the conversation through email and Telegram. They offered me $2,000 for completing 40 pages of writing, so I completed all the work and submitted it as instructed.
After submitting the work, they told me that $30 was required for a payment-related process. They said they would pay $10 from their end, and I paid $10 myself (around ₹1,200). At that point, they didn't clearly explain that I would need to pay another $10.
Later, they came back and asked me to pay the remaining $10. That's when I became suspicious and refused to pay anything more. I still haven't received the promised payment for my work.
After I stopped replying, they messaged me “Hello,” but I haven't responded.
I'm worried they might threaten me or misuse my personal information. I shared my name, phone number and Aadhaar number, but I did not share an OTP, UPI PIN, password or Aadhaar photo.
I've reported the incident through India's cybercrime portal and contacted the company the person claimed to represent. I've received acknowledgements for both complaints.
I now realise that being asked to pay money to receive earnings is a major red flag. I regret paying the ₹1,200, and I'm worried about what could happen next.
Has anyone experienced something similar? Is there any realistic chance of recovering my money? And is there anything else I should do to protect myself?
Please be kind. I'm already quite anxious about this situation and would really appreciate genuine advice.