Have you ever received a text or WhatsApp message asking if you’re interested in online work?
It may sound like a great opportunity, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that you could be falling for a scam.
These scams are called “task scams,” and they’re becoming more common.
In these scams, the work feels more like playing a game than doing a real job.
Scammers will ask you to do simple tasks, like liking videos or rating product pictures, and promise to pay you.
At first, you may get small payments, making it seem like everything is legitimate.
But then, the scammer asks you to send cryptocurrency (like Bitcoin) to continue working.
They promise you’ll earn more money, but once you send the cryptocurrency, the scammer disappears with your money. The FTC says if it feels like a game, it’s probably a scam.
These types of scams have been on the rise. In 2020, there were no reports of task scams, but by 2023, there were over 5,000 complaints.
By the middle of 2024, that number has already shot up to 20,000.
The scammers are using cryptocurrency to steal even more money. In the first half of 2024 alone, victims lost $41 million in cryptocurrency. That’s double the amount from the year before.
How do these scams work? Here’s how a typical scam goes:
- You get a message about online work.
- The scammer asks you to complete tasks like app optimization or product boosting.
- You start getting small payments, so it feels real.
- Then, the scammer asks you to pay them in cryptocurrency for more tasks.
- After you send the money, the scammer disappears, and you don’t get any real earnings.
The FTC warns that even though it may look like you’ve earned money, it’s all fake. You’ll never get it back.
Sometimes, scammers try to convince you by inviting you to group chats with “happy workers” who share fake success stories.
If you ever get one of these messages, remember: it’s not a real job. Stay safe, and never send money to someone you don’t trust.