A Johor woman in search of job opportunities in Singapore via Facebook found herself ensnared by a hacker who swindled her into transferring RM2,800. Ms. Lee, aged 40, disclosed her harrowing experience to Oriental Daily after her phone screen abruptly blacked out while she was completing a job application on a mobile app, following the hacker's instructions. 

Initially spotting a job listing for a packaging staff position at a milk chocolate factory in a dedicated Facebook group for Singapore job seekers, she reached out to the OP and was directed to fill out an application form via WhatsApp, receiving further guidance over the phone.

"As I was diligently filling out the form as instructed, my phone suddenly went dark, but the call persisted. That's when I sensed something was amiss," recounted Ms. Lee. 

Following the incident last Sunday, she shared her distressing encounter on a Facebook group before delving into further details during an interview with Oriental Daily. Throughout the blackout, the hacker remained on the line, even surreptitiously accessing her phone's camera.

"I couldn't power off my phone, and the hacker was actively typing on my screen. I hastily covered the camera with my hand and warned them of my intention to report the incident to the authorities," she recounted. 

Moreover, the hacker assumed her identity to solicit money from a friend, who unwittingly transferred RM2,800 to the specified bank account.

"I never solicit money from my friends via text messages. The friend who fell victim attempted to contact me, but my phone remained unresponsive, leaving me powerless to intervene," clarified Ms. Lee, fortunately escaping any financial repercussions.

She underscored the importance of seeking assistance from nearby phone stores in the event of phone hacking or screen blackout, advocating for the deletion of all data and a phone reset to forestall further illicit activities. 

"This counsel was imparted to me by a phone shop proprietor," she affirmed.

Source: Oriental Daily