Although Singapore is often regarded as one of the safest countries worldwide, it is unfortunate that countless individuals are still victimized by deceitful scammers.
This article is a vital resource for anyone traveling to Singapore, relocating, or seeking employment from another country.
We strongly recommend reading and sharing this article to not only protect yourself from fraud but also to help others who may be unaware of these risks.
Below mentioned Job Scams have already impacted thousands and continue to occur.
What is this Job Scam in Singapore ?
Victims of these fraudulent schemes are generally presented with online job offers that allow them to work from home. They are instructed to carry out various tasks for a commission, which can include making advance purchases, liking social media posts, reviewing hotels, restaurants, or airlines, completing surveys, artificially boosting the value of cryptocurrencies, or rating mobile applications to improve their rankings in app stores.
In some cases, victims are also asked to transfer money to bank accounts provided by the scammers, with the promise of receiving a small commission in return.
As the scheme progresses, scammers may request additional funds under the pretense of facilitating higher earnings, ultimately leaving victims unable to withdraw their money or resulting in the scammers becoming unreachable .
There has been a 50% rise in these scams, as individuals, driven by high inflation, are seeking additional employment opportunities and are consequently more susceptible to job-related frauds.
Let us understand how this Job Scam that impacted JT and her family
JT, currently employed as an administrative executive, aimed to earn additional funds to assist with her mother’s medical expenses.
She was informed that the part-time position involved assisting travel booking sites with “virtual orders,” promising a commission of two to five percent for each successful transaction.
The potential earnings were presented as ranging from $200 to $500 daily.
Captivated by this opportunity, JT accepted the position and was subsequently added to a Telegram group chat by another individual named Joanna, where she would receive the orders
Upon commencing work , JT executed 16 PayNow transactions from her personal savings account to an unidentified phone number
After each transaction, Joanna would notify JT of her earned commission. The transaction amounts varied from $253 to $3,745, culminating in a total of approximately $30,000
Joanna repeatedly assured JT that her funds would be returned, along with her commission.
However, JT was later informed that she needed to transfer an additional $5,007 as “income tax” before she could reclaim her money.
It was at this juncture that JT recognized she may have been the victim of a scam. By that time, she had already borrowed around $5,000 from friends to facilitate some of the transactions
How to get more information on other type of scams and get advise ?
Please don’t hesitate to Call NCPC Anti-Scam Helpline @ 1800-722-6688 (Mon-Fri: 9am to 6pm, excluding Public Holidays) if you need advice on scams.
Singapore Police Force is doing their best to prevent, deter and detect crime. However , as a responsible resident we should help our Police Force and help them in their mission.
We are also Police without Uniform 🙂 and together we can continue to make Singapore the Safest Place in the World !
