Beware of Endorsement Scam Targeting Creator Accounts

Jakarta (ANTARA) — Content creators and affiliate partners should be alert to scams disguised as partnership or endorsement offers from people claiming to represent Shopee’s digital management. The aim is to take over social media accounts through phishing links.

The scam begins with a request for a rate card, accompanied by an offer to join a double-date campaign or another promotion. The perpetrators then promise that fees or commissions will be paid automatically through ShopeePay once the content has been uploaded.

They then ask potential victims to click on a link to confirm the partnership. The link is designed to look like an official Shopee collaboration page and a social media platform.

Through the link, victims are asked to connect their Shopee account to their social media account. In reality, the link is used to take control of the targeted creator’s social media account.

If the perpetrators gain access, they may misuse the victim’s account to carry out further scams, potentially harming the account owner and others.

To avoid this type of scam, users should check the sender’s identity and verify that a website address is genuine before clicking a link or following instructions. They should also inspect URLs carefully, as perpetrators can create domains that resemble official websites. A convincing page design or the use of a brand’s logo does not guarantee that a link is safe.

Anyone receiving a suspicious partnership offer or message claiming to be from Shopee can verify it through the company’s official customer service before taking further action. Enabling two-step verification on Shopee and social media accounts can also provide an additional layer of protection against unauthorised access.

In a statement on Saturday, Shopee urged users to follow its “3C” principle: check the sender, check the facts and keep up to date with scam tactics.

Information claiming to come from Shopee can be verified through its official channels, including customer service on 1500702. Users can also use the Fact Check feature in the app by going to Me, then Customer Service.

Information about scams and how to prevent them is also available through the Instagram account @shopeecare_id and the Shopee XTRA Aman website.