Job Scams in Singapore on the Rise
The Singapore Police recently revealed a significant increase in job scam cases in Singapore, with a nearly 95% rise compared to the previous year. Out of all the reported scam types in the first half of 2023, job scams took the lead, accounting for over 5,700 cases reported from January to June of that year.
The cumulative amount defrauded in these job scams throughout 2023 has reached a staggering $79,400,000 SGD.
Moreover, their data indicates that a majority of the victims of job scams in the first half of 2023 were young adults. This isn't surprising, as younger individuals tend to possess greater tech proficiency and are more inclined to explore unconventional methods for seeking and securing employment.
According to the statistics provided by the Singapore Police, the most prevalent method for these scams to initiate is through messages on messaging platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram. However, it's essential to note that this is not the sole avenue, as job scammers employ a variety of approaches, including dating apps, online advertisements, social media, phone calls, emails, online shopping platforms, and SMS messages, to identify and target potential victims.
What is a Job Scam in Singapore?
Job scams in Singapore can manifest in various ways, but the Singapore Police have outlined a typical modus operandi:
Individuals are enticed with online job opportunities that can be carried out from the comfort of their homes. These opportunities may involve completing straightforward tasks such as making advance purchases, participating in surveys, liking social media content, reviewing establishments (like hotels, restaurants, or airlines), enhancing the value of cryptocurrencies, boosting the ratings of product listings for online retailers, or rating mobile apps to enhance their rankings on app stores.
To initiate the process of earning a 'commission' for these tasks, victims may be asked to create accounts on deceptive websites. Initially, they might be required to transfer funds to bank accounts provided by the scammers, in return for a small commission. Over time, they'll be urged to provide increasingly larger sums of money, supposedly in pursuit of higher earnings. It's only later that victims realize they've fallen prey to a scam, as they don't receive their promised commission despite sending substantial amounts of money, being unable to withdraw funds from their accounts, or losing contact with the scammers.
While there are various ways in which scams can occur, the methods described above are the most prevalent ones observed by the Singapore Police in the first half of 2023.
What Should You Do If You Feel You've Been Scammed?
If you require urgent Police assistance, please dial ‘999’. If you have any information relating to such job scams or if you are in doubt, please call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
For more information read the Singapore Police Advisory on Job Scams.
Facts & Figures contained in this article are sourced from The Singapore Police force's MID-YEAR SCAMS AND CYBERCRIME STATISTICS 2023 (released 13 September 2023).