A new wave of crypto scams has hit TikTok, targeting vulnerable job seekers with fake advertisements that promise lucrative pay for minimal work.
One such victim, a Leicester man named Omar Al Selk, fell prey to this scheme after responding to an enticing job offer he found on the platform.
The scam began in early August when Al Selk clicked on a TikTok ad that promoted a “data provider user” role with a company called Clickaine, advertised as an international app marketing firm.
The job was presented as requiring no experience and promised a monthly salary of up to £4,650 ($5,800) for just an hour of work per day, with wages paid in USDT, a popular cryptocurrency.
After clicking on the ad, Al Selk was contacted by supposed recruiters via WhatsApp. These scammers lured him in with promises of quick earnings and sent him small initial tasks for which he was paid promptly.
The tasks involved transferring small amounts of money to a specific crypto wallet, which was later refunded along with bonuses, creating a false sense of security.
As the scheme progressed, Al Selk was asked to make larger and larger deposits to the wallet to continue the tasks. These deposits quickly ballooned from £30 to over £8,000.
After completing a few tasks successfully and receiving his refunds, Al Selk trusted the scammers and made a final large deposit of £6,000 to the crypto wallet.
However, after this transfer, communication from the scammers abruptly stopped, and no further tasks were assigned.
Realizing he had been defrauded, Al Selk took to TikTok to warn others about the scam. He shared his story with his online community, which sparked widespread conversation about similar incidents. Many other users came forward, revealing that they too had been targeted by similar scams on the platform.
This type of fraud, often referred to as a “pig butchering” scam, involves scammers establishing long-term relationships with their victims, building trust before ultimately defrauding them.
The scammers involved in this scheme falsely used the name of Clickaine, a legitimate Czech marketing company, which has since denied any involvement in the fraudulent activity.
The incident has sparked concerns over the rise of crypto-related scams on social media platforms like TikTok, where scammers prey on unsuspecting users with promises of high-paying jobs.
Despite TikTok’s guidelines prohibiting fraudulent schemes, scammers continue to exploit the platform, taking advantage of job seekers desperate for employment.
Cybersecurity experts are urging social media users to remain vigilant and avoid engaging with unsolicited job offers that require upfront payments, especially those involving cryptocurrency.
“This scam is part of a growing trend where fraudsters manipulate users into making crypto payments by exploiting trust,” said a cybersecurity analyst. “The key is to verify the legitimacy of job offers and be cautious of any requests for upfront deposits.”
