Why does clicking ‘like’ buttons make victims believe the offer is real?

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Victims can be drawn in because early “like” tasks are followed by real payments that build trust

Clicking the “like” button on product links is presented as a simple, low-effort task, and it is paired with the promise of lucrative returns. In this case, after completing several tasks, the victim received payments, which the police said made him trust and become convinced that the offer was legitimate. Only later did the suspect ask for additional payments described as management fees to withdraw profits of RM400,000.
The offer starts with a low-effort task tied to visible progress
The advertisement was seen on Facebook on June 3, and the suspect introduced himself as a company representative through WhatsApp and Telegram. The task structure required the victim to click the “like” button on product links provided by the suspect, which can make the work feel straightforward and easy to complete. When the victim could finish “several tasks” successfully, it reinforced the sense that the process was working.
Early payments after initial tasks help create credibility
Police said that after the victim completed several tasks, he received payments. Those payments came before the suspect requested any further money, which can make the scheme appear genuine to someone who is waiting to see results. In many online fraud patterns, initial rewards function as proof that the system is real, even if later requests change the terms.
The scam shifts from tasks to requests for money once trust is established
After the victim was already convinced, the suspect later asked him to make payments for “management fees” to withdraw profits said to amount to RM400,000. The pressure to pay continued, and the victim realised he had been scammed only after the suspect kept pushing for further payments. By then, the victim had already made 21 transactions totalling RM80,580 to six different bank accounts between June 11 and 22.
Police are investigating the case under criminal fraud provisions
Terengganu police reported that the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. The report was lodged at 3.28 pm yesterday, following the loss of RM80,580 by a 35-year-old lorry driver. Investigators said the victim used borrowed money from friends to make the 21 transactions.

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Why does clicking ‘like’ buttons make victims believe the offer is real?

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