SINGAPORE: Small business owner Dayana Rizal, 27, is no stranger to dealing with online buyers, but the one she encountered on Oct 3 seemed particularly - in her words -"harmless".
Ms Dayana, who works in a pottery studio and conducts workshops, then referred the buyer to her website, asking them to check what was available and complete the purchase there. But the buyer insisted on buying through Instagram. "She was like, okay, just to make sure, I'll send in a request to Instagram to send you a message just to check whether you're the real owner or not. Once you receive the message, can you send me a screenshot? Then I'll make the PayNow to your number," she said.
"I was really clouded by, one, I wanted to close the sale. Secondly, I just thought she was a harmless aunty. I thought she didn't want to be scammed, and I understood also because I didn't want to be scammed.Other small business owners have encountered buyers who try to use this seemingly simple method of taking over an Instagram account.
Ms Dayana went back to that official message Facebook had sent, and realised that it was a link to reset her password. She tried the link but it did not work. Some of the scam posts were plastered on a picture of Ms Dayana and her boyfriend, which she believes was downloaded off her highlights reel. She found this"creepy".