Over $10.6 million lost to job scams involving online tasks, web surveys since October
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Some victims received unsolicited outreach from scammers through WhatsApp and Telegram.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
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SINGAPORE – Beware of job advertisements online or on social media platforms promising commissions for performing tasks on online platforms, running online businesses, or conducting web surveys.
The police on Nov 24 said that at least 215 cases have been reported since October, with total losses amounting to at least $10.6 million.
The scam advertisements are often listed on social media platforms and job portals. Victims also receive unsolicited outreach from scammers through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.
Scammers typically present three types of online tasks that would eventually result in them asking for increasing amounts of payment from the victims.
The first type involves online tasks that require victims to carry out online activities such as promoting brands, optimising apps or completing orders in return for commissions. Victims are required to deposit money to complete the assigned tasks.
The second involves online businesses, where scammers ask victims to register accounts for fake websites of online businesses. In this task, victims are asked to make upfront payments for each order received through their online store, with the promise of earning commissions once the orders are delivered.
While the victims initially receive the promised commission, the upfront payments for subsequent orders increase gradually before they are informed of certain issues that require additional deposits.
The third type of task sees victims being asked to complete web surveys in return for commissions. They are required to make upfront payments to complete the surveys, and as the payment amount increases gradually, victims find themselves unable to complete the surveys or to withdraw their earnings.
In all three types of online tasks, victims realise they have been scammed only when they deposit too much money or when they fail to withdraw the promised “earnings”, said the police.
To avoid falling victim to a scam, members of the public are advised to download the ScamShield app and activate the relevant security features that can prevent unknown users from adding them into group chats.
If in doubt, call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline on 1799 to check.
