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Since the start of this month, about 50 individuals have reported a loss of more than S$430,000 to job scams related to the e-commerce website- Lazada.
The Singapore Police Force released a statement on 11 May 2022, updating that the victims had received the messages via SMS, WhatsApp, and social media platforms. These fake jobs were advertised as “high paying market-related” jobs which require individuals to work on boosting online sales for the merchants. An attractive commission would be paid upon completion of simple tasks, which will be done online. The scammers would then provide a URL to a fake webpage for the victim to create an account where victims would require filling in their personal information for account creation.
According to the statement, the job starts off with simple tasks such as liking a product on the websites where victims would be paid $2 per like. Those who were able to withdraw the initial commissions earned would be convinced that this job opportunity was legitimate. The scammers would then proceed to offer the victims up to 30 percent commission for purchasing items on the website. However, victims would require to transfer money to an unknown bank account to top up the credits into their accounts for these purchases. The victims would discover this fraud only when they failed to withdraw from the said accounts, or when the fake website is removed.
Although the job scam technique used by these scammers were very much similar, Lazada is not the only e-commerce website scammers used. Platforms such as TikTok and Shopee had been reported to be used for such job scams as well. Targeted victims would be contacted through SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, or even social media platforms, offering an attractive commission for part-time or full-time positions of these fake jobs, such as those mentioned above.
Scams like these are not new. Victims have shared numerous stories on scamalert.sg about their encounters with these scammers. Users are recommended to verify information from the official websites or reliable sources before jumping to any conclusion or decision. Always remember, do not circulate information that you are unsure of, and do not click on suspicious links sent to you even if it is sent by someone you know.
Apart from the tips provided above, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) has warned the members of the public to be wary of such messages. If you require any assistance, call the Police Hotline at 1800 255 0000 or submit the information online. For more information about scams, you may call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800 722 6688 or visit their website at www.scamalert.sg/.
Scam Alert | Cyber Safety | Scams | Job Scams | IT Tips
