A few individuals reportedly lost up to more than half a million ngultrum to an alleged online scam operating as “TikTok Shop” on social media platforms. The Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (CCAA) and the Department of Law and Order have received three cases so far. The alleged scam reportedly offered part-time job opportunities, promising easy income, high commissions, and quick returns.
According to one of the victims, the alleged scam begins on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, where users are targeted with attractive online job offers promising quick and easy earnings.
According to the CCAA’s preliminary investigation, interested individuals are redirected from social media to WhatsApp and Telegram groups, where they begin communicating with so-called “operator” of the alleged scam.
Once inside the chat groups, users or participants are asked to provide personal information, including name, age, occupation, email address, and registered phone number.
After sharing personal details, participants are provided with an invitation code and are directed to register on a website linked to the operation.
The registration link then leads to a platform that mimics an e-commerce or investment dashboard.
The users are then promised commission based on each task they complete on that platform.
The victims are then asked to deposit certain amount through bank account numbers to be able to complete the task.
The task is mainly clicking on products displayed on the platform.
To gain trust, the operator allegedly allowed some users to make small profits initially.
However, the victims could not withdraw any of their earnings.
So far, at least two complaints have been formally lodged with the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority, with victims losing Nu 28,000 and 50,000, respectively.
According to the CCAA’s report, the operation displays several characteristics commonly associated with fraudulent online scams, including unrealistic profit promises, upfront payment requirements, repeated demands for additional deposits, and the absence of a transparent business model. The report further stated that the operator presents itself as representatives of “TikTok Shop”, an e-commerce feature integrated into TikTok platform that allows users, creators, and businesses to buy and sell products directly through the app. However, CCAA found no evidence of legitimate connection between the e-commerce platform and the one that is allegedly operating in the country.
The authority has also raised concerns over the misuse of personal and banking information collected from users during registration. CCAA found that multiple Bhutanese bank accounts were being used to receive deposits, making it difficult to trace the alleged scammers.
While the CCAA had forwarded the case to the Royal Monetary Authority for further action, the RMA has indicated that the matter should instead be forwarded to the police for investigation.
Meanwhile, the Department of Law and Order has also received a similar case involving a victim who lost more than Nu 550,000.
The Department of Law and Order has since frozen the implicated bank accounts.
Tashi Dekar
