Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission warns public about job offer scams using a tasking and recharging scheme

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission issued a public warning, particularly for jobseekers, about “job offer scams” that use a so-called tasking and recharging scheme to solicit deposits and defraud victims. Reports reviewed by the SEC’s Enforcement and Investor Protection Department indicate scammers approach targets through messaging platforms including Viber, Messenger and Telegram, offering simple paid tasks for a purported e-commerce platform. Victims are then required to make an initial deposit to access a dubious platform and are pressured into depositing increasing amounts to unlock higher-paying tasks, with small early payouts used to build credibility. The SEC cited an example where a victim is asked to deposit PHP 500 for tasks worth PHP 1,000, then later to deposit PHP 5,000 to access tasks worth PHP 10,000, with the cycle continuing until deposits become large; once victims attempt to withdraw, further deposits are demanded for various reasons before the operators disappear.