Work-from-home scams on the rise at e-commerce platforms, warns Bukit Aman

SHAH ALAM - A new scam is on the rise in e-commerce platforms, where victims including university students are offered jobs to earn a side income.

Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (JSJK) director Datuk Mohd Kamarudin Md Din said the number of cases has reached a new high with syndicates on the lookout for new ways to deceive the public.

"Based on the police report, it is said that the syndicate will advertise jobs on social media such as Facebook, Wechat, and Instagram. Interested victims will then be given a link to the e-commerce site before being instructed to buy certain items,” he told Sinar Harian in an exclusive interview.

Mohd Kamarudin said the victim will be asked to increase the sales rate of certain products that are sold on the e-commerce platforms, allegedly to increase the rating of the product.

"For example, if we want to buy goods, of course, we will look at the rating of the product.

"The syndicate will then instruct the victim to buy cheaper goods in the beginning with a promise of an eight percent return of the purchase value,” he said.

He added the modus operandi was to lure victims by giving them their commission.

However, he said subsequently the scammers would raise the value of their goods and each payment will then need to be made into a personal account of another individual.

"Usually the first and second sale would be legitimate. The trouble comes after, when the victim deposits a large sum of money, sometimes up to a few thousand ringgit.

"The e-commerce company is, however, not involved in such scams," he assured.

Kamarudin added the usual products “offered” by the syndicate are electrical goods and clothing.

Since the beginning of last year, a total of 316 cases were recorded, amounting to a total loss of RM7 million.

“Covid-19 restrictions worsen the situation as syndicates would use this period to lure those in need of money," he added.

Bukit Aman has so far arrested 70 individuals, including two Chinese nationals, and further interrogations saw the scam involved both locals and Singaporeans.

He reminded the public to be careful of such scams as there is no such thing as easy money. “Refer to the e-commerce platform to check whether it is legitimate or otherwise before signing up," he said.