M’sian nurse loses over US$80,000 in an online part-time job scam promising greater profit

MALAYSIA: A 46-year-old nurse supervisor from Malaysia fell prey to an online part-time job scam, resulting in a substantial loss of RM387,035 (equivalent to approximately US$81,782).

Despite the growing awareness about the methods employed by scammers, individuals persist in falling for their deceptive tactics.

The unfortunate sequence of events began when the nurse received a WhatsApp message on Sep 11, presenting a seemingly attractive part-time job opportunity.

This seemingly promising job involved a prepaid assignment, demanding an upfront payment and guaranteeing substantial profits.

Initially, the scammer lured her in by promising RM5 (US$1.06) commission for each task completed by simply clicking the ‘like’ button on Instagram.

Completely taken in by this, the victim proceeded to complete five tasks and received a commission amounting to RM25.

Subsequently, she was presented with a prepaid assignment that required an upfront payment and held the promise of greater profits.

Over the course of 13 days, the victim executed a total of 36 transactions, transferring funds to 21 different bank accounts, resulting in a cumulative loss of RM387,035.

It was only after making this substantial financial commitment that she came to realize that she had been deceived.

Police chief warns public of fake job offers

Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman has disclosed that the victim used her personal savings and borrowed money from friends and family to fund these transactions.

The case is currently under investigation, falling under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.

Yahaya has issued a warning to the public, urging them not to easily trust job offers that come through social media platforms, promising high returns.

He advises potential victims to verify such offers on the official website before making any financial commitments.

Deceptive job scams on social media

Deceptive job scams proliferate on social media platforms, diverging from typical scammers who prompt victims to download third-party apps.

Instead, it capitalizes on social media’s familiarity to attract victims by offering them the prospect of a high-paying “job/commission” in exchange for a “deposit.”

Initially, they offer simple tasks like liking Instagram photos or subscribing to YouTube channels and provide modest payments for these basic assignments, acting as bait to lure victims.

While this might appear as an easy way to earn money, the real deception unfolds when victims are encouraged to participate in “prepaid jobs” and asked to make deposits to access these higher-paying opportunities.

Despite the illusion of significant earnings, victims soon discover they cannot withdraw any money.

By the time they realize the scam’s true nature, they’ve already suffered substantial financial losses.

Such is the case for numerous Singaporean residents who have been defrauded by job scams in 2023, with a combined loss of at least S$96.8 million.