The Police would like to alert the public to the persistence of a job scam variant, where scammers would entice victims by offering them fake job opportunities that involve purchasing tasks on online platforms. Since May 2023, at least 1,399 victims have fallen prey, with losses amounting to at least $19.9 million.
The victims would receive job offers through unsolicited WhatsApp or Telegram messages, asking them to participate in simple surveys or if they interested in performing simple tasks such as “boosting” ratings of product listings for online merchants. Victims would be enticed by the rewards offered for the simple tasks and proceed to create accounts on fraudulent websites to earn more commissions.
After the victims successfully received their initial payment and commission, they would be asked to make payments for more tasks. Some of the tasks include:
- Boosting reviews on online merchants.
Victims would just need to give a good rating on a certain product listing, and submit a screenshot of the review to the scammer through Whatsapp or Telegram.
- Ordering items online
The scammer would send Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) to victims and instruct victims to place orders for certain items. Victims are to submit a screenshot of the orders to the scammer through Whatsapp or Telegram. Victims are instructed not to make any payments for the orders via the website’s payment modes. Instead victims are instructed to make payments to bank accounts provided by the scammers in the Whatsapp or Telegram chats.
- Invest in cryptocurrency
Victims would sign in to a cryptocurrency account to buy cryptocurrency in order to stimulate crypto market movement.
Victims would only realise that they had been scammed when they were not unable to recover their subsequent high value payments for tasks.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to adopt the following precautionary measures:
- ADD - ScamShield App and set security features (e.g., enable two-factor (2FA) or multifactor authentication for banks, social media, Singpass accounts; set transaction limits on internet banking transactions, including PayNow). Do not send money to anyone who you do not know or have not met in person before.
- CHECK - for scam signs and with official sources (e.g., visit www.scamalert.sg or call the anti-scam helpline on 1800-722-6688). Do not accept dubious job offers that offer lucrative returns for minimal effort.
- TELL - authorities, family, and friends about scams. Report the scammers to WhatsApp and Telegram.
If you have any information relating to such crimes or if you are in doubt, please call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential. If you require urgent Police assistance, please dial ‘999’.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688. Fighting scams is a community effort. Together, we can ACT Against Scams to safeguard our community!
Images of initial contact between Scammer and Victim ▼
Images of Fraudulent websites where accounts are created for victims to buy their tasks ▼
Images of Tasks to be performed ▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
08 June 2023 @ 7:50 PM