Job offer that sounds too good to be true? It’s probably a scam.

An unknown number texts you about a part-time job offer paying hundreds of dollars an hour. Sound too good to be true? It probably is. 

Job scams in Singapore increased by more than 16 times in the first half of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, with many falling victim to such scams. Scammers lure people through text messages offering lucrative and easy jobs on behalf of well-known companies such as Shopee and Lazada. 

Once the victim has taken the bait, the scammer would often prompt victims to conduct repeated top-ups to complete “missions” in order to receive their lucrative commissions. By the time the victim has transferred out a sizeable sum and start to notice something amiss, it is already too late. Here are some red flags you can catch early on to avoid these scams.