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Fake job / task scam

Fake job task scam — when easy work asks for your money.

These start as friendly part-time offers on WhatsApp or Telegram and end with you being asked to deposit your own money — often in crypto — to unlock the salary you 'already earned'.

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This is a second opinion, not a verdict. We never say a message is safe. If anything matches what you saw, slow down and verify before sending money or sharing codes.

An example message that fits this pattern

HR · Maria

WhatsApp · Today · 10:32

Hi! We saw your CV. We pay €70 per day for simple online tasks — rating products, liking videos.
After your first 30 tasks, you'll need to deposit €120 to activate your account and unlock earnings.
Everyone is doing it — it pays back in 2 days.
Composed for illustration. Real ones look almost identical.

What this scam is, in plain words

These scams imitate real part-time work. You're given simple tasks and shown a growing 'balance' on a dashboard. Then a wall appears: deposit money — often crypto — to unlock the next level, or to withdraw earnings. The dashboard is fake. Your deposit is gone.

A real employer never asks you to send them money in order to receive a salary. Ever.

Warning signs

If two or more of these show up at once, slow down.

  • Job offer arrives unsolicited on WhatsApp or Telegram.
  • Pay is unusually high for very simple work.
  • You're moved off the platform into a private group with an 'instructor'.
  • After some tasks, you must deposit money — often crypto — to continue or to withdraw.
  • The dashboard shows large pending earnings you can't yet withdraw.
  • Other 'happy workers' in the group post screenshots of their earnings.

What to do now

Calm steps you can take in the next two minutes.

Don't

  • Don't deposit any money to 'activate' an account or 'unlock' earnings.
  • Don't send crypto to anyone you met through a job offer.
  • Don't share a photo of your ID, bank details, or your card.
  • Don't recruit friends or family to the group — that's how the scam scales.

Do

  • Block the contact and leave any related group.
  • Report the message inside WhatsApp / Telegram.
  • If you already deposited, contact your bank or exchange — the sooner, the better the chance of recovery.

One last reminder. We never say something is safe. We surface signs to help you pause and verify. If anything looks off, talk to one person you trust before sending money or sharing codes.

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Start here

Is this a scam? Pause before you pay or share.

If you feel rushed, isolated, or asked to pay before you receive anything — pause. That feeling is usually right. Take two minutes to check it properly.

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