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Job

Scam medium:

  • Email and text
  • Internet
  • Phone and fax

Targeting:

  • Individuals

Many scams target and take advantage of people looking for a job.

Variations that have been reported to us include:

Car wrapping

Scammers send you an unsolicited message that you can earn $300 to $500 per week by wrapping your car, truck, SUV or bike with a "company" logo. If you respond, you receive instructions and a contract followed by a cheque in the mail.

The scammers instruct you to deposit the cheque into your account, and withdraw some of the funds. Then you're directed to deposit the money into a specific bank account to pay a graphics company and/or other fees. At this point, you learn that the cheque is counterfeit and you're responsible for any funds withdrawn.

Counterfeit cheque

In this scam, a scammer sends a text message or email to people who post their resumes online, offering them a job. Job offers can vary and have included:

The scammer sends you a counterfeit cheque with a story about why they need help to cash it. They ask you to cash it and return some of the funds to the fraudster.

Crypto job fraud, boosting products or online tasks

Scammers will contact you by text message, WhatsApp, email or Messenger after you have shared your resume and contact information on job recruitment websites.

Using names of real companies in Canada, scammers offer you a freelance job opportunity to "boost" products, apps or videos using software created by the scammers. After you install the software and create an account, you'll receive "orders" or "tasks" you have to complete.

You might receive a small payment or commission to convince you that the job is legitimate. Scammers will then tell you can earn higher commissions or "move up a level" by boosting more products but you need to pay fees to gain access to the additional work.

Funds are deposited into crypto accounts or wallets. You will see funds in your crypto account, but you will not have the ability to withdraw the funds you have deposited and earned.

Never agree to receive funds into your personal bank account to forward elsewhere, there is a good chance you are being used as a money mule and contributing to money laundering.

You may also be asked to recruit people to get higher earnings. This is pyramid selling and is illegal in Canada. It's a criminal offence to promote a scheme of pyramid selling.

Financial agent

Scammers will try to recruit you with a job offer through:

The job may be called a "financial agent" or "client manager". When you answer the offer, the scammers hire you as a payment processor for the suspect company. Your job is to receive payments from the company's clients. You'll receive e-transfers or wire transfers into your bank account. The scammers then direct you to send money through Bitcoin to a company representative. The money received is either from compromised accounts or other fraud victims. The scam has made you a money mule. You could be arrested for money laundering.

Mystery shopper

You receive a notice that you have been selected to be a:

The notice includes a cheque and some instructions. The scammer asks you to deposit the money into your personal bank account and to transfer a large part of the money into a specific bank account

The fraudsters may also ask you to make small purchases, such as gift cards, and to provide the numbers to them to confirm that they work.

At every step, the scammer asks you to complete and submit a customer service survey based on your experiences. The surveys are a prop to convince you the job is real. You later find out that the cheque you deposited is fake and you now owe money to the bank.

Web surveys and "e-commerce" store jobs

Fraudsters offer fake work-from-home jobs that involve running online stores or completing web surveys. These offers often appear in social media ads, text messages or through messages on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Messenger or TikTok.

Victims are promised easy income, small commissions, and flexible work. At first, the tasks look simple, and the platform shows fake earnings to build trust. Victims may even receive a small initial payout. But soon, they are asked to make deposits to continue.

Online store jobs: Victims are told to register for a fake online store or e-commerce platform. They are asked to "process orders", "approve transactions" or "manage inventory". They are promised commissions for every completed order. As victims continue, the system begins requesting larger deposits to "upgrade the account", "fix order errors", or "unlock higher commissions".

Web survey jobs: Victims are asked to complete paid online surveys. After completing a few simple surveys, the platform claims there are issues and asks for deposits to continue. Victims see a rising fake balance on the screen, but they are unable to withdraw any funds. They are pressured to finish more surveys and to pay to unlock the next level.

Victims often realize it's fraud only when the deposit amounts become too large or when the platform blocks withdrawals.

Warning signs

How to protect yourself

Anyone who suspects they have been the target of cybercrime or fraud should report it to their local police. Also visit the Report Cybercrime and Fraud website to report online or by phone at 1-888-495-8501.

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