600 Canadians were defrauded of a total of $1.2 million

According to the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), over 600 Canadians were defrauded of a total of $1.2 million in a job scam that falsely used the Amazon name and was orchestrated by Chinese criminals operating out of British Columbia. The police have charged three individuals related to the operation, with about 30 local residents falling victim to the scheme, collectively losing $84,000.

The charged individuals—Chen Chen, 36, Jiameng Wang, 29, and Dalraj Gill, 35—are facing allegations of fraud exceeding $5,000. An investigation began in 2022 after the EPS received multiple reports about a work-from-home scam. The fraudulent job was presented as a means to fulfill Amazon orders, requiring victims to join an internet platform called Sharegain, which was active from August 2021 to May 2022. Victims were instructed to invest money based on the size of their assigned orders to receive returns. They were asked to complete 20 to 40 tasks daily, promising guaranteed returns on their investments. Dubbed an "order-grabbing job," the victims processed fictitious Amazon orders for the purpose of reviews and shipping, while their earnings were based on their initial investments. The scheme resembled a pyramid structure, urging victims to recruit others to the platform to amplify their returns.

Victims were initially lured in with a return on their first investments, which were actually funded by subsequent victims believing they were investing legitimately. The scammers also encouraged some victims to grant access to their accounts for increased returns. Const. Brian Mason of the EPS's Electronic Response Team noted that the scam was sophisticated, using Amazon's reputation to ensnare victims into a complex scheme that built initial trust before leading to greater losses.

He advised anyone offered a high-paying job that requires an investment to be wary, as it is likely a scam. The criminal group behind the scheme is believed to be an organized crime outfit from China, operating in British Columbia. Police have identified connections to funds associated with human trafficking and shell companies in the UK and China. An Amazon spokesperson expressed concern about such scams putting consumers at risk and commended Edmonton law enforcement for their prompt response. Jamie Wendell, senior corporate counsel at Amazon, stated that victims of this scam, or anyone receiving suspicious communications claiming to be from Amazon, can report it at www.amazon.ca/reportascam. Wendell affirmed that Amazon would investigate and take action against the perpetrators.

Nadiger