Have you been getting calls that go, “I am calling to inform you that your resume from JobStreet has been received. Please contact me via WhatsApp”?
Normally, I’d ignore this obvious scam. But yesterday, I decided to have a little fun.
I messaged the number on WhatsApp: “Hey, I didn’t apply for any job. But if you have a well-paying one, I’m open to exploring.”
The person on the other end immediately introduced herself as a TikTok promotion partner, looking for people to like and follow certain TikTok channels—for up to RM2,000 per day.
Now, that job description got my attention.
Just as I was thinking about ways to tweak my CV to highlight my social media promotion chops– a series of rapid-fire templated messages arrived. They had devised a test and asked me to like and follow two TikTok accounts—Louis Vuitton and Sony.
I followed both accounts, took screenshots as proof, and sent them over. Flawless execution. Surely, they could see my natural ability and talent for following channels and clicking “Like”.
Satisfied with my dedication to the craft, the recruiter then sent me a referral code and a link to a Telegram account belonging to a “TikTok auditor.” She told me to contact this person to claim my payment.
This is impressive. Nothing screams “legitimate business” more than communicating across multiple platforms with strangers who have impressive-sounding job titles,
Naturally, I launched Telegram and messaged the “TikTok Auditor.”
She replied instantly with a friendly templated message asking for my personal and bank account details—because, you know, they really wanted to pay me for the job well done.
To prove their authenticity– not that I had any doubt for even a single micro-second– she even attached screenshots of payments from other lucky recruits.
I was so excited that I skipped past the whole personal details part and went straight to sending my crypto wallet address, requesting payment in Bitcoin instead.
I told her, in vague but darkly ominous terms, that I had “regulatory” issues with local financial institutions and that Bitcoin was simply a better option.
She hesitated and then asked if I could at least provide a local bank account or a TnG wallet instead.
To sweeten the deal, I even offered to take only half the promised amount—just RM1,000—0.002715314060842423 BTC at yesterdays’ rate at 12:07:32 pm.
And then, to show I was serious, I sent her a doctored screenshot of a crypto wallet that featured an infamous FBI bitcoin address, the one they used to confiscate money from Silk Road buyers.
To make it extra convincing, I ensured that the wallet appeared loaded with hundreds of thousands of USD.
After waiting a while to ensure that the person on the other side of the chat had just enough time to read it before I swiftly replaced it with a version where the balance was crossed out.
Then I said: “Please excuse me. I had sent the earlier screenshot too quickly! Don’t tell anyone about how much I have.”
After waiting a beat, I then added: “And oh, please do send proof of transfer when completed.”
She went silent for 15 minutes.
Then came the message: “Are you Malaysian?”
At that moment, I knew the jig was up. I had no choice but to go all in.
I admitted to her, in complete confidence, that I was actually an agent working for an unnamed Russian oligarch.
I explained that my client was merely looking for alternative revenue streams to navigate certain “geopolitical inconveniences”. And while I couldn’t reveal his identity, I was very confident he’d be interested in making RM2,000 per day by browsing, liking and following TikTok accounts.
Needless to say, I never heard from this TikTok auditor again.
Note: Louis Vuitton, Sony, and TikTok have no connection to this scam. Their names and reputations have been misused by unscrupulous parties to deceive unsuspecting victims. If you or someone you know has fallen victim to an online scam, call the National Scam Hotline at 997 in Malaysia.