On 5 June 2024, the New Straits Times (NST) reported that an insurance agent got scammed a total of RM283,225 in a fake part-time job scam.
It all started when she saw the job opportunity on social media and contacted the advertiser.
What happens?
Scammers are getting smarter nowadays; they are creating mobile applications that the victims have to download.
The victim, an insurance agent in her early 40s, downloaded an application called Sands.
She followed the instructions and guidelines on the app and sent her “employers” screenshots of the finished tasks.
After she completed the job tasks, the app showed her earnings.
When the victim tried to withdraw her money from the app, she was asked to make money transfers.
She transferred RM283,225 in cash across two bank accounts.
Our Advice
1) Research the Company: Always verify its legitimacy by checking its official website, looking for reviews online, and confirming its contact information.
2) Beware of Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers: Be sceptical of job offers that promise high pay for little work or quick, guaranteed earnings. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
3) Check for Professional Communication: Legitimate companies will use professional email addresses and proper grammar. Be wary of job offers from free email accounts (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) and poorly written communications.
4) Avoid Upfront Payments: Never pay for training, equipment, or job-related expenses upfront. Legitimate employers will not ask for money as part of the hiring process.
5) Protect Your Personal Information: Do not share sensitive personal information (e.g., Identity Card number, bank account details) early in the hiring process. Ensure the company is legitimate before providing such detail.
6) Be Cautious of Unusual Interview Methods: Legitimate employers typically conduct interviews via phone or video calls, not exclusively through text or messaging apps. Be suspicious of employers who avoid face-to-face interactions.
7) Verify Job Tasks: Be wary of jobs involving reshipping packages, depositing checks, or transferring money. These tasks are common in fraudulent schemes. Ensure the job responsibilities are clear and make sense for the role.
Condition Zebra provides Cybersecurity Solutions and Cybersecurity Training for public and private SMEs in various industries, Financial Services (Banks and insurance), Government Ministries and agencies, and Government-linked companies.
Our mission is to utilise a unique strategy of combining key technologies with expertise in Information Security and Risk Management to fully prepare clients to prevent and deal with cybersecurity incidents.
Condition Zebra’s Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solution is a comprehensive cybersecurity service that utilises the real-time threat detection and response capabilities of an EDR or XDR to detect, investigate, and respond to cyber threats.
Our Penetration Testing service is a well-sought type of Cyber Security Service recognised as accredited by the Accreditation body CREST.
Source:
Insurance agent scammed
Share this: