Authorities warns about the “task scam” proliferating the Internet; easy money promise, hidden trap

• "Task scamming" lures individuals with promises of easy income for simple online tasks, beginning with unsolicited messages from fake employers, and later defrauding victims through bogus investment opportunities

• Scammers build trust by initially delivering small payments for minor tasks, like "liking" products, before escalating to demands for larger investments that are never returned

• Authorities like PAOCC and CICC explain that these scams use methods such as "MC catchers" or phishing websites to acquire contact details for mass messaging, and that the fraudsters often operate in organized groups

• Government agencies and industry experts caution the public that no legitimate employer will ask for money in exchange for a job or send unsolicited offers through messaging apps without a prior application

A deceptive online scheme, widely known as "task scamming," is rapidly proliferating, ensnaring numerous individuals with promises of easy income for completing simple online tasks.

This sophisticated fraud typically begins with an unsolicited message from an individual posing as an employer, luring victims with the prospect of quick earnings, only to later defraud them of their money through fake investment opportunities.

The modus operandi of these scams was recently highlighted in a report by Darlene Cay on GMA News' Unang Balita.

One victim, identified only as "Bea" to protect her privacy, recounted receiving a message from someone claiming to be a staff member of a digital marketing agency, offering a flexible "work-from-anywhere" opportunity.

Bea was initially promised earnings of up to nearly P9,000 per day simply for "liking" products on various shopping applications.

The scam begins by building trust and demonstrating small, initial payouts. "May pinagawa siya sa isang shop na i-heart po ‘yung parang product. Kada po may pinapagawa silang ganu’n na i-heart, nagbibigay naman po sila ng P160 hanggang tatlong beses po," Bea explained, detailing how she received these small payments, which falsely validated the legitimacy of the offer.

However, the scam quickly escalated. Bea was soon offered a chance to significantly grow her earnings through an "investment."

"‘Yung P1,200 ko naging P1,560. Tapos nakalagay naman po doon 'yung sumunod is P3,500 na po. May binigay po na link sa parang Bitcoin. Doon po 'yung parang mag-i-invest, lalaki daw po 'yung pera doon," Bea stated.

Enticed by the promise of substantial returns, Bea even borrowed money to commit a larger sum, hoping for greater profits.

To her dismay, the promised returns never materialized, and the supposed employer subsequently blocked all communication, leaving her distraught and in debt.

"Natulala po ako doon eh kasi ‘yung P6,000 doon sa P9,800, inutang ko lang din po ‘yun. Akala ko kikita ako, mas nalugi pa pala," she lamented.

Bea's experience is not isolated. Pearl Valenzuela-Baltazar shared a similar ordeal, losing over P38,000 to the same scheme. Baltazar emphasized the professional and convincing nature of the scammers.

"Professional sila, ang galing nila magsalita. Kumbaga, madadala ka talaga. Sakto, kasi that time talaga naghahanap din ako ng side hustle," Baltazar recounted, highlighting how these fraudsters exploit individuals seeking additional income.

Despite her pleas to have her money returned, she too was ignored and blocked.

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has identified this elaborate scheme as a "task scam."

Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz, Executive Director of PAOCC, described the modus: "They will lure you in.

They'll pretend there are tasks you need to do to earn, right? And what's heavy here is that they work in groups."

Cruz warned that victims' phone numbers might be acquired through "MC catchers," devices capable of extracting numbers, messages, and other data from nearby smartphones, which are then used for mass text blasts to potential targets.

If an individual is enticed by these messages and continues to engage, they become increasingly vulnerable.

The Cybercrime Investigation Coordinating Center (CICC) also suggested that numbers could be obtained from previously clicked phishing websites.

"Kukunin nila 'yung mga cellphone numbers tapos iti-text blast nila ngayon. ‘Pag nahagip 'yung phone mo nu’ng mga ads nila ngayon at ikaw ay na-engganyo, doon mapapasakay ka na at sigurado madadali ka nila kung tutuloy-tuloy mo 'yung task cam na ibibigay sa'yo," stated Assistant Secretary Aboy Paraiso, Deputy Executive Director of CICC, explaining how personal information is harvested for illicit purposes.

The PAOCC is currently investigating these scams, with concerns that some operators may be based in the Philippines.

Authorities urge the public to exercise extreme caution when encountering unsolicited job offers online.

Employers Confederation of the Philippines President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. offered crucial advice: "No legitimate employer will ask for money from an applicant in exchange for a job."

He further cautioned that genuine employers do not typically contact individuals via messaging apps unless an application has been explicitly made. "Employers do not get in touch with individuals.

They pass through channels or platforms. Nobody calls from a company to offer a job to somebody. People should be suspicious by this system alone," Ortiz-Luis Jr. stressed, advising vigilance against such deceptive practices.

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In other news, a woman was caught on CCTV in an alleged commission fraudulent act when she tried to ask for the change from a vendor. Based on the CCTV footage, the woman alighted from a bus and started to get some "isaw." Thereafter, she "confronted" the vendor and asked for the change saying that the latter still owes her a P50 change. Since she was already acting hysterically, the vendor just gave her the P50, and she immediately walked away.

Still in other news, “Alyas Totoy,” a suspect in the missing sabungeros case, has come forward to disclose information due to threats allegedly made against his family's safety. Totoy claims that over 100 c0ckfighting enthusiasts, far exceeding the officially reported 34, were killed and their bodies dumped in Taal Lake. Totoy points to a c0ckfighting arena owner and online sabong operations owner as the mastermind, alleging their network, including family, was involved. The Department of Justice, through Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, has expressed readiness to hear Totoy's full revelations and potentially place him under the Witness Protection Program.

Source: KAMI.com.gh