SINGAPORE: A Lalamove driver lost S$200 after accepting a late-night delivery job that turned out to be a scam.
The driver, who took the 2am order last March through the Lalamove app, said he agreed despite initial hesitation because the promised S$140 commission seemed attractive.
The “customer,” using an Indonesian phone number, instructed him to buy food and convenience-store items with his own money, costing nearly S$30.
The scam escalated when the customer demanded that he top up S$155 into a Singtel Dash virtual card. Claiming to be a tourist unable to use PayNow, the scammer threatened to cancel the order if the top-up was not made.
Feeling pressured and worried about losing what he had already spent, the driver complied.
When he arrived at the given address, the scammer stopped responding. Police later confirmed it was a scam. The driver said he was left stressed and devastated, having borrowed money to complete the purchase.
Lalamove said it addressed the case with him and continues to urge drivers to report suspicious jobs. Source: Yahoo News.
🔍 HackWarn.com Analysis
Why This Scam Worked
- False sense of security: The job appeared legitimate because it came through the Lalamove app.
- Pressure tactics: Scammer threatened to cancel the job, pushing the driver to comply.
- Small initial requests: Buying low-cost food items reduced suspicion before demanding a larger top-up.
- Use of foreign number: Impersonated a “tourist” to avoid standard payment methods.
How to Stay Safe
- Never use your own money for top-ups or unusual purchases.
- Reject orders involving virtual cards, prepaid top-ups, or personal payments.
- Report suspicious instructions directly through the app.
- Verify customer identity if requests fall outside normal delivery procedures.
