Job / Task Scam
Fake work-from-home job offers that ask you to pay in before you're ever paid out.
What is a job / task scam?
A job or task scam offers flexible, easy work, rating products, 'boosting' online listings, or completing simple micro-tasks, usually through a messaging app rather than a real job board. The work itself is fake. It exists only to convince you to keep paying in small 'deposits' or 'unlock fees' that are never returned.
How it works
- 1
You receive an unsolicited message offering flexible, well-paid remote work, often for a job you never applied for.
- 2
You're guided to install an app or join a group, and given a handful of simple starter tasks.
- 3
The first few tasks pay out quickly and genuinely, building trust in the platform.
- 4
You're then offered a 'premium' task with a much bigger payout, but it requires a deposit to unlock.
- 5
Each deposit unlocks a bigger balance you still can't withdraw, with a new fee required each time.
Warning signs to watch for
You're contacted out of the blue about a job you never applied for
Communication happens entirely over WhatsApp, Telegram, or similar apps rather than official channels
You're asked to pay any amount of money to unlock work or earnings
The pay is significantly higher than similar legitimate roles for very little effort
There's no verifiable company, business registration, or real office behind the offer
How to protect yourself
Never pay money to receive a job or unlock your own earnings
Research any company independently before engaging, and be wary if you can't find one
Be cautious of unsolicited job offers that arrive by text or messaging app
If it sounds too easy and too well paid for the effort involved, it probably is
Has this already happened to you?
Stop paying in immediately, no matter how close you feel to unlocking your balance. Gather your payment records and any messages from the recruiter or platform, then contact your bank. From there, a free eligibility check with us will tell you honestly whether there's a case worth pursuing.
Job / Task Scam questions
I still have a 'balance' showing on the platform. Can I withdraw it?
No. That balance isn't real money, it's a number designed to keep you paying in. Stop making any further deposits, regardless of what the app shows.
The recruiter has blocked me. Does that stop the investigation?
No. Losing contact with the recruiter doesn't prevent us from tracing the payment trail and building your case.
Is it worth reporting if I only lost a small amount?
Yes. Smaller individual amounts are often part of a much larger scheme, and reporting can matter for group action even when a single case is modest.
Can money sent through a mobile payment app be recovered?
It depends on how quickly it's reported and the provider's own policies, but it's always worth a free eligibility check.
Other scam types
“I felt so stupid for falling for it. They reminded me it wasn't my fault, and they actually did something about it.”
— Kevin T., client
Think this might be what happened to you?
Start with a free eligibility check, we'll tell you honestly whether there's a case worth pursuing.