I applied for a Market Research Analyst role via LinkedIn but was soon contacted on WhatsApp by someone claiming to represent a company called “FAGUO.” The role quickly shifted to something entirely different: “E-commerce Merchandising Uploader,” which involved manipulating product reviews, ratings, and clicks. This was both unrelated to my application and ethically concerning.
The communication was unprofessional. It was conducted only through WhatsApp, responses were vague, and the website they referenced actually belonged to an unrelated clothing brand. I was also asked to “reapply” despite them already having my CV.
When I asked direct questions about the role and company, I received evasive or inconsistent answers. The tasks described were misleading and centered on inflating online product performance rather than legitimate research or merchandising work.