The number of people who have fallen victim to job scams has continued to rise, according to the police. At least $6.5 million was lost in work scams between January and June 2021, with the biggest sum defrauded in a single case being around $676,000.
The Police have observed two variants of jobs scams:
First Variant: victims were told to download fake mobile applications to grab the jobs through the application.
Thereafter, they would be instructed to top-up funds into their account on the applications by transferring the money to bank accounts provided or to convert the amount into cryptocurrency and transfer them into wallets provided by the scammer. As scammers would have allegedly promised victims their commission after a certain number of tasks have been completed, the amount will then be reflected in their mobile application accounts.
However, the victims then realised that they have been scammed when they were unable to withdraw the money from these accounts.
Second Variant: victims would receive a warning letter via WhatsApp and be pressured into making further fund transfers to bank accounts or cryptocurrency wallets provided of they have chosen to discontinue with these jobs.
The letter would indicate that their mobile application accounts would be frozen and legal actions could be taken against them if they were to discontinue with the ‘job’.
The scammers have also included the emblems of Singapore Police Force, Singapore’s Coat of Arms as well as the Supreme Court on the warning letters issued to victims to enhance the credibility of their ruse.
Victims would eventually realise that they have been scammed when they do not receive their commission after completing the tasks given to them by the scammers.