Online 'AI‑tools' job scam leaves thousands in North Macedonia out of deposits

An online work offer that promised paid tasks using artificial-intelligence tools has left thousands of people in North Macedonia and the region out of hundreds, even thousands of euros.

The investigative TV programme KOD aired a report showing how the website that had hired the victims collected their deposits and then shut down, cutting off contact with those who had paid.

According to the victims’ accounts shown on the show, the advertised jobs required an upfront deposit to access the AI tools and training materials; many paid believing they would be able to work from home and receive later payouts.

Agency for National Security assessment and wider risks

The programme also discussed the security risk and threat assessment for 2027 issued by the Agency for National Security (ANB), which lists Russian and Chinese influence among concerns but identifies organised crime and corruption as the highest risks to national security. ([anb.gov.mk](https://anb.gov.mk/en/?utm_source=openai))

KOD further examined proposals for merging or closer coordination among intelligence services and how civilian oversight of communications interception is operating in practice.

The episode was broadcast after the evening news on Telma; producers urged anyone who lost money to report the case to the police and relevant consumer-protection bodies so investigators can trace the operators and recover funds where possible.

Photo: press material from the event