The central bank has issued a set of “warning signs” citizens should be aware of when receiving a message or phone call “with an online job offer that promises high pay.”
Often, these contacts aim to persuade recipients to make payments or use “their account as a ‘mule account,’ essentially as a conduit for funds obtained fraudulently,” the central bank states.
“The attempt at fraud begins with a message or phone call, possibly from a foreign phone number, offering a job you did not apply for. It involves online work from home with promises of high earnings. These offers may also be spread via social media, particularly on WhatsApp or Telegram, through ads or direct messages,” the BdP highlights.
Individuals may then be invited “to join a chat group (such as on WhatsApp or Telegram), where they will receive more information about the job offer,” and instructions about the tasks to be carried out appear on these social media platforms.
“They promise ‘high compensation for simple tasks,’ like watching videos on online platforms (such as YouTube, TikTok, or Tripadvisor), following certain pages and profiles on social media, or writing reviews for hospitality establishments on online booking platforms. Tasks may also involve transferring funds received in your account to other accounts. In these cases, they aim to use your account as a ‘mule account,’ meaning to launder funds acquired through illegal activities,” the Banco de Portugal explains.
According to the banking supervisor, many times, the criminal networks require individuals to pay “a registration fee to the ‘company’ with a promise that it will be returned, plus a commission,” once the first task is completed.
The alleged job might also “involve ‘pre-paid tasks,'” where targets have to “advance a certain amount to gain access to supposedly more lucrative tasks.”
Some schemes, notes the BdP, may be linked to scams involving crypto-assets.
“To gain your trust, the criminal agents may pay you the amount corresponding to the initial tasks, typically small amounts,” but at a certain point, “the amounts required to access certain tasks increase and payments cease,” and if the target “confronts the fraudsters, they are likely to become unreachable, and may delete any WhatsApp or Telegram groups and supposed ‘company’ pages,” warns the central bank.
In this warning, the BdP stresses the importance of citizens being wary of “opportunities to make easy money,” advising against clicking on “links from unknown sources,” joining suspicious groups, and urging individuals to protect “their personal information” and “never” make advance payments.
Should any situation raise doubts, citizens should not share personal data, the BdP advises.
“If an individual detects unauthorized movements in their account, they should contact their bank or service provider immediately.” If a person falls victim to “a fraud incident, they should report the situation to the nearest police authority (PSP, GNR, or PJ) or the Public Prosecutor’s Office,” the central bank further recommends.
