Billions of rupees lost in QNET scam in Pakistan, victims share stories

ISLAMABAD: Numerous individuals in Pakistan have fallen victim to the QNET scam, a multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme that has been widely criticized for its fraudulent practices. Several victims often reported being lured into the scheme with promises of quick financial gains, only to find themselves financially devastated.

The QNET scam, which is common in South Asian nations, uses pyramid scheme tactics under the guise of selling legitimate products and to invite others to join the scheme with lots of financial investment promises of a shortcut to becoming rich.

Several victims have reported that the recruiters, mostly their relatives or another trustworthy person, invite them to join the scheme with fake promises that they’ll become rich quickly. They show off fake success stories, like people driving luxury cars or traveling abroad after earning from the scheme, just to lure them in.

Furthermore, the recruiters told the victims to pay an upfront investment (usually millions of rupees) and promise a monthly profit. You get a product (like a travel package or a digital course) that’s often overpriced and rarely used.

Then, the victim gets pressured to recruit others to make back your money — that’s where the real profit lies, one of the victims told Daily Ausaf.

The QNET scam victims said that the profit comes through a ‘Pyramid Structure’, like you earn commissions when others join under you.

“They must also pay upfront, and the cycle continues, which becomes unsustainable because it relies on constant recruitment and luring the next victims, which eventually collapses,” they said.

Moreover, victims are often manipulated emotionally, sometimes told to cut off skeptical friends/family.

With time, the victims start feeling guilty for being scammed and scamming others in the Pyramid structure, knowing that they are bringing others into the financial scam, they decide to leave. This decision brings substantial financial losses and pressure to the victim.