iMessage Scam
Overview
This scam involes getting an iMessage from some sort of random looking email address, usually from @hotmail or @outlook.com.
The message will be something along the lines of:
Hello, my name is Emily, recruiter at DSL, we came across your profile through several online recruitment platforms and were impressed by your background and experience, we’re currently offering a flexible part-time opportunity that you can work on in your free time. The role involves assisting TEMU merchants with product reviews. It’s a straightforward task, and we’ll provide free training to get you started. The daily salary ranges from $201 to $3000, and you can receive your commission immediately after the work is completed. All payments are made on the same day. If you would like to join us, please contact us via WhatsApp: +12894637554 (Please note that applicants must be at least 21 years old to be eligible for this role)
They will then redirect you to Whatsapp, Telegram, Signal or similar. This scam usually involes a fake job offer, and the scammers will try to get you to send them money to get started or buy equipement from their own portal with the promise of reimbursement. They will also promise re- imbursement for any expenses incurred and never send you any money back.
How to Spot this scam
There are some key, tell ta l signs that can help you spot this scam:
- The email address is from a free email provider like @hotmail or @outlook.com. Scammers use these emails because anyone can sign up for no cost and almost no verification. Additionally, they will mass send, perhaps in 10s of thousands in a very short time before any automated detection systems shut them down.
- The email address is not from the company that is being advertised for. For example, “DSL” will never use a @hotmail.com account for offial communications.
- Redirect to another communcation platform with a phone number. “DSL” would also never ask you to communicate via What’s App, telegram etc. They would only use offical email accounts at the corporate email address.
- Immediate or Same day Payment. This never happens in a corporate environemnt.
- No witholding taxes. Every corporation in North America and Most of the EU is required to withhold taxes on any payments made to employees. Even to some contractors.
- Too good to be true. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.
How to prevent or protect yourself from this scam
Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to prevent receiveing theese messages. Fraudsters will get your contact info through a vareity of means. Some legit, some criminal. However, if you receive one of these text messages, the safest thing to do is delete it and block the number and of course, report it to us.
Examples
