“Task” Scams

You may get an unexpected message on WhatsApp, Telegram, text, or social media. It states if you do these little tasks online, you can make some quick cash. Sounds simple and the message says you will get paid right away. This could be a scam.

“Task” scams begin with an unexpected message that offers you easy “work” doing little tasks like “product boosting” online. You complete the tasks through an app or online platform. The scammers make you think you are earning money through “commission” with each click you make. Spoiler Alert: there are not any commissions, and the scammers are going to take your money.

As each task is completed, scammers will make you see what looks like more and more supposed earning in the app. They are fake! However, the scammers want you to believe that these earnings are real. They might even pay you a little, usually $5 to $20, to try to gain your trust.

Scammers will switch it up and turn the tables on you. To unlock and complete the next set of tasks and get your “earnings” from the app, the scammer tells you to deposit your own money (usually in crypto). You make the deposit, and you still cannot get the (fake) earnings.

Your real money is now gone.

Avoid “Task” scams:

• Ignore generic and unexpected messages about jobs. Real employers will never contact you that way.
• Never pay anyone to get paid, or to get a job. That’s a sure sign of a scam.
• Don’t trust anyone who says they will pay you to give them a positive rating or to go like things online. No honest company will do that.

Source: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/08/how-spot-and-acoid-task-scams

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