Police in Edmonton, Alberta, say that over several months, an organised group of criminals made many approaches to potential victims on social media. They were hooked by a proposal to get a job and to take part in "an investment opportunity" they could do from home. 

The fraud gained credibility because the fraudsters represented themselves as acting for Amazon and that all people had to do was to log onto an internet platform and complete a series of tasks, according to Constable Brian Mason of the Edmonton Police Service electronic response team. 

The platform was called "Sharegain" and the scheme consisted of multiple elements, designed to confuse victims.

First, they were directed to fictitious Amazon orders; then to see if there was a review for that product. If there was a review, they had to click to accept it and then forward it so that it would appear. "you completed 40 of those and you earned your commission for the day," said Mason.

But the bit that makes no sense, but is how the victims lost money, is that the bigger the order, the more victims were told they could "invest". What they were investing in is not at all clear but they were shown that their commission - and top up funds - were generating profits and, initially, some payouts were made but it was a Ponzi scheme and new money paid out old earnings until the money dried up. 

From what we can see the fraud came down to this: "give us money, we'll invest it and you'll see good returns". But there were no investments, just a Chinese organised crime gang operating the fraud across the world. In Edmonton alone, there were more than 30 reported victims. 

The scheme had a local end and Chen Chen, 36, Jiameng Wang, 29, and Dalraj Gill, 35 have been charged with a range of offences.