Temu Job Scam Spreads in Nigeria: WhatsApp “Online Coordinator” Offers Target Thousands
A rising number of Nigerians are receiving WhatsApp and Telegram messages advertising fake high-paying Temu jobs. This is described by cybersecurity analysts as the latest wave of digital recruitment scams in the country.
The scam promises ₦100,000–₦200,000 daily earnings for simple “online coordinator” tasks. These tasks mainly include clicking product links and taking screenshots—allegedly for Temu, the fast-growing global e-commerce platform.
A Lagos resident who received one of the messages on Monday shared the suspicious exchange with Arbiterz. The message came from someone posing as “Ms. Lise from TEMU Online Shopping”. They claimed to recruit remote workers for a “Merchant Hype Team”. The pitch sounded simple: click on products, take screenshots, earn ₦750 per item. There were no fees or experience required, and a ₦1,500 instant test payment was offered.
The script follows a familiar pattern used worldwide:
“You can earn up to 50K–200K Naira per day. You will NOT deposit any money.”
“How old are you? Do you have Telegram?”
Why Nigerians Are Being Targeted
Fraudsters are leveraging:
- Temu’s rapid expansion in Nigeria
- WhatsApp’s dominance as the top communication platform
- Increasing demand for online side-hustles and micro-jobs
- Economic pressure from inflation and unemployment
- Limited digital literacy and online-fraud awareness
Experts add that Nigeria and Ghana are “ripe targets” because scammers know people are used to receiving job offers, investment opportunities, and business pitches via messaging apps. Fraud rings buy bulk SIM cards and access leaked survey/marketing data to blast thousands of numbers daily.
HOW THE TEMU SCAM WORKS
Although scammers use genuine Temu product links to appear legitimate, the operation is entirely fraudulent.
Reports from multiple countries show the same pattern:
- Initial trust-building Victims are given small tasks and paid ₦1,000–₦3,000 to demonstrate “credibility.”
- Upgrade to VIP tasks Participants is asked to deposit money to unlock higher-paying assignments.
- Escalation Deposits grow from ₦10,000 to ₦200,000 or more, with promises of high returns.
- Exit Once significant money has been deposited, scammers block the victim’s Telegram or WhatsApp account.
Temu itself has repeatedly warned users that it does not hire individuals to “hype” products or take screenshots. It also does not recruit via WhatsApp or Telegram.
Digital-Safety Experts Call for Increased Awareness
Cybersecurity analysts warn that Nigeria’s booming digital-payments and e-commerce landscape is fueling more social-engineering scams, which rely not on malware but psychological manipulation.
“This scam works because it looks easy and harmless,” a Lagos cybersecurity expert explained.
“Most people think, ‘It’s just screenshots what’s the risk?’ But once you join the Telegram group, the pressure tactics begin.”
With more Nigerians shopping on global platforms, experts say consumer digital-safety awareness must improve to outpace rapidly evolving online fraud tactics.
