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The Police would like to alert members of the public to remain vigilant against job scams that involve performing tasks on online platforms, running online businesses, or conducting web surveys. Since October 2025, there have been at least 215 reported cases, with total losses amounting to at least $10.6 million.

In this scam variant, the victims would encounter advertisements on social media platforms, job portals or receive unsolicited outreach from scammers through messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram. The scammers would typically present three types of taskings that ultimately require escalating payments: 

1. Online Tasks: Victims would be required to carry out various online activities - such as promoting brands, optimising apps or completing orders - in return for commissions. The victims would be asked to deposit monies to complete their tasks. 
   
   
2. Online Business: Victims would be asked to register accounts for fake websites of online business and to make upfront payments for each order received through their online store, with the promise of earning commissions once the orders are delivered. While the victims would initially receive their promised commission, the upfront payments for subsequent orders would increase gradually. The victims would then be informed of certain issues that require additional deposits. 
   
   
3. Web Surveys: Victims would be asked to complete web surveys in return for commission and to make upfront payments to complete these surveys. As the upfront payments would increase gradually, the victims would find themselves unable to complete the surveys and unable to withdraw their earnings.

The victims would only realise that they had been scammed when the deposit amount becomes too large or when they failed to withdraw their “earnings”.

Members of the public are strongly advised to adopt the following precautionary measures:

1. ADD - the ScamShield app and set security features (e.g., activate the privacy function on WhatsApp which disallows unknown users from adding you into group chats. To do so, go to Settings > Privacy > Groups and select the privacy options “My Contacts” or “My Contacts Except..”.)
   
   
2. CHECK – for scam signs with official sources or websites. You can check the legitimacy of suspicious messages, phone numbers and website links via the ScamShield app or visit the ScamShield website at www.scamshield.gov.sg. Do NOT accept dubious job offers that offer lucrative returns for minimal effort. 
   
   
3. TELL - authorities, family, and friends about scams. Report any fraudulent transactions to your bank immediately.

If you are in doubt, call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 to check. For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg. Fighting scams is a community effort. Together, we can ACT Against Scams to safeguard our community!

Annex

Screenshots of Online Tasks



Screenshots of Online Business



Screenshots of Web Surveys