Online job scam warning

John Green* lost nearly $200,000 in just three days after falling victim to a scam on social media platform TikTok that promised him fast-track access to Canada’s Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.

For days, Green said his TikTok page was flooded with advertisements from a company claiming to offer a pathway to the programme that employs thousands of Jamaicans annually. The father of two said he saw an opportunity to create a better life for his family, so he recorded the number that was listed and reached out to the company.

On May 12, he said he was asked to transfer $60,000 that, he was told, would contribute to travelling fees. A day later, he was told to deposit another $45,000 into a bank account.

The following day, Green was asked to make a third payment of $83,000 which, he was told, would cover his accommodation and a biometric test.

He explained that he was communicating with the company via email and WhatsApp and he was sent photos and documents at each step of the process. One photo sent to him showed the house that he would supposedly live in for the duration of the programme.

By the time he was asked for a fourth payment of $80,000 to complete the process, Green, who works as a groundsman, said he had exhausted his funds and already borrowed from relatives. So, seeking a loan, he reached out to his employer, who was the first to raise suspicions about the company.

After further research, he came to the daunting realisation that he had been scammed.

“It tore me apart, because I was to be blamed for doing something like this on my phone, and did not get any verification that this was legit,” he told The Gleaner. “I have a family and I just wanted to see a brighter way, knowing and thinking that this was something legit,” he said.

He has since reported the matter to the police; but Green said the weight of the situation depressed him.

“I was down, and I don’t want this situation to have me down for so long. I’m taking time to recuperate now,” he said.

He is now hoping that his story will be used as a cautionary tale.

“This teach me that certain things that we see on social media, you’re not supposed to jump to conclusion, you are supposed to do some checks,” the 38-year-old said.

Although he was not able to provide immediate data, Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony McLaughlin, who heads the Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime Division, told The Gleaner that the police have been noticing an increase in the number of people scamming others online.

“You have vulnerable persons within the population who are desperate either for job or education, [need] somewhere to live, [want to] purchase appliances, and people on social media exploit them,” he said.

He is calling for the public to be vigilant when interacting with online service providers.

“There are several scams that have been going on on social media of which we are aware, and we are trying to do all we can to educate persons that whenever they see these offerings, especially when they are too good to be true, they need to think twice before they invest their money into it,” he said.

Speaking recently during a post-Sectoral Debate press briefing, Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr said the Government has successfully reduced the number of employment agencies operating illegally on the island.

He stated that while his ministry’s Employment Agency Unit plays its role by monitoring private agencies that facilitate overseas employment for Jamaicans, and maintaining an up-to-date list of licensed entities to safeguard citizens, individuals must still exercise caution.

“We work with law enforcement, embassies and through public outreach to make sure that we can provide information to the public [about] where you have scams. And I say so because there are several times when we are observing, particularly on social media, many agencies that are not licensed, that are not monitored under our Employment Agency Unit, and that have never registered themselves with us,” Charles said.

He encouraged citizens to verify overseas job opportunities by visiting the ministry’s website and social media platforms, or by contacting or visiting the ministry directly.

“We continue to warn persons to be vigilant. Be vigilant, be aware, be alert, and ensure that you consult our approved list to verify the credibility of job opportunities that are being advertised,” he said.

*Name changed on request

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com