Recently, a new type of phishing scam has emerged, exploiting the popularity of e-commerce companies like AliExpress, Temu, and Coupang. These scams involve proxy shopping and fake review writing jobs, promising high commissions with minimal effort.
The newly emerging phishing using proxy shopping began with text messages (SMS) sent to many unspecified people. The message claims, “Due to our increased workload, we are recruiting proxy shoppers and review writers for AliExpress, Temu, Coupang, etc.” It resembles job postings for review experience groups affiliated with these companies.
Reporters from Chosunbiz engaged in proxy shopping tasks through the KakaoTalk open chat room from May 13 to 15. The senders identified themselves as freelancers without specifying a company name, and there was no employment contract.
The task was straightforward: after registering as a member of the shopping mall recommended by the person in charge, one had to purchase the specified items and confirm the purchase by capturing and sending the purchase details to the person in charge.
It took only one minute to purchase the specified items from a shopping mall and verify it with the person in charge. In just one minute, one can earn over 10,000 won in commission (5%).
After completing the proxy shopping tasks for items ranging from 30,000 to 49,000 won within the pre-paid 50,000 won limit, the person in charge refunded the principal plus the commission. However, this was merely bait before moving on to large-scale proxy shopping jobs.
The person in charge explained that they purchased items cheaply from shopping malls selling at factory prices and then sold them at wholesale prices to distribution companies, taking the remaining profit. Due to the increasing order volume from AliExpress, Temu, and Coupang, they inevitably needed to hire part-timers.
After completing given tasks mentioned earlier, the person in charge suggested a ‘new task’. This involved buying items that cost more than the prepaid 50,000 won. Since it required the part-timer to use their own money, the commission rate was raised from 5% to 10-20%. With immediate refunds for small amounts, this offer might be tempting for those looking to earn money.
However, accepting the task could make one vulnerable to scams. There are online reports of proxy shopping jobs involving large sums of money that didn’t result in refunds or commission payments. Also, the personal information given to the scammers could be misused in unknown ways, leaving victims anxious about potential future consequences.
The same concept can be applied to part-time jobs that involve writing fake reviews of products. These part-time workers are typically recruited through social media (SNS) by having conversations with the person in charge.
Once they become members of a specific online shopping platform, they use cash to buy specific items and then write reviews. They receive shopping mall points for the principal amount plus fees, which can be converted into cash and deposited into their bank account. While small amounts are refunded immediately, victims often report that large amounts are not settled.
The industry highlights the use of well-known company names in these recruitment ads as the primary cause of the damage.
A representative from AliExpress stated, “We do not recruit review experience groups using such methods,” and urged caution if receiving related text messages to prevent fraud.
Representatives from other companies also emphasized that these recruitment ads were unrelated to their businesses and were illegal false advertisements, urging people to remain vigilant.
