The Rising Tide of Online Employment fraud

In Ontario, two residents have recently fallen victim to elaborate job scams propagated through social media platforms, resulting in a combined loss exceeding $80,000. This incident underscores a growing concern about the prevalence of fraudulent employment opportunities online,particularly those preying on vulnerable individuals seeking income.

According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center, employment scams are on the rise, with reported losses increasing by 30% in the last year alone. these scams often target individuals who are unemployed or underemployed, promising high wages for minimal effort.

Victims Speak out: Tales of Deception

Greg Burgos, a Toronto resident, recounts losing $11,000 after responding to a seemingly promising part-time job advertisement on social media. Burgos, who had recently lost his job and faced subsequent health challenges, was particularly vulnerable.

The advertisement led him to a scheme involving opening a TikTok shopping mall, purportedly for buying and reselling products. He was assured that initial investments would be reimbursed. Initially, Burgos saw profits reflected in his online account, creating a false sense of security. Tho, when he attempted to withdraw his earnings, he discovered the deception.

At first, I was suspicious, but burgos seemed to be profitable on his online account and seemed to have thousands of dollars in digital wallets.

Similarly, Mary, residing in Oshawa, fell prey to a product review scam after submitting her resume to various companies.She was offered a commission-based opportunity to evaluate products through social media. The scheme involved an initial payment to receive products for review, with the promise of commission based on the number of evaluations completed. Though,as she reached certain milestones,she was required to deposit additional funds,ultimately preventing her from withdrawing any of her supposed earnings.

Expert Advice: Red Flags to Watch For

Claudiu Poppa, a cybersecurity expert, emphasizes the need for extreme caution when encountering job offers on social media. He advises individuals to be wary of the following:

• Absence of face-to-face interviews
• Unrealistically high salaries for seemingly simple tasks
• Requirements to send money upfront to earn profits

Poppa also stresses the importance of thoroughly researching companies and safeguarding personal information.

claudiu Poppa, Cyber Security Expert
If there is no face -to -face interview ◆ If the salary is too high compared to easy things ◆ If the condition is required to send money first to earn profits

Platform Response: TikTok’s Statement

TikTok has acknowledged the issue, stating that scammers are exploiting the platform by impersonating tiktok or TikTok Shop to lure victims. The company urges users to be cautious of requests to download apps from unofficial websites.

TikTok Online Statement
There are cases where frauds are attracting victims by stealing the name of tiktok or Tiktok Shop.

protecting Yourself from Job scams

To avoid becoming a victim of job scams, consider these preventative measures:

• Verify the legitimacy of the company through independent research.
• Be skeptical of offers that seem too good to be true.
• Never send money to secure a job.
• Protect your personal information and avoid sharing sensitive details online.
• Report suspicious job postings to the relevant social media platform and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.