Scammers often reach out through WhatsApp, Telegram, text messages, or social media, promising easy money for completing simple online “tasks.”
At first glance, it can look like a real job opportunity — but it’s actually a setup. These “offers” are usually scams designed to trick you out of your time and money, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
“Task scams” or “gamified job scams” often fool people into thinking they’re earning commissions for things like product boosting or clicking links. To build trust, scammers often show fake earnings inside an app and may even send a small payout.
But it’s all designed to lure you in.
The real catch comes later: you’ll be asked to deposit your own money, often in cryptocurrency, to unlock more tasks or withdraw your supposed earnings. That money goes straight to the scammer, and your “earnings” disappear.
Below are some tips on how to stay safe, according to the FTC:
- Ignore surprise job offers or generic and unexpected messages about jobs through texts or apps such as WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Never pay anyone to get a job or get paid.
- Don’t trust anyone offering money for likes or ratings.
If you see a task scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. To learn more about other types of scams, visit cefcu.com/security.
