In this guide
Checking employers and job offers
Task scams: paid online 'tasks' that end with you paying
How task or 'product boosting' job scams work, why small early payouts are part of the trick, and how to get out safely if you have already started.
How a task scam unfolds
- An unexpected message on text, WhatsApp, Telegram or social media offers flexible online work.
- You are shown an app or website where you complete repetitive tasks and see 'commission' build up.
- You may receive a small real payment, which makes the system feel trustworthy.
- You are told to deposit money to unlock the next set of tasks or to withdraw your balance.
- Each deposit leads to another requirement, and the balance can never be withdrawn.
The FTC describes this pattern in its consumer alerts on task scams and on job offer texts, and notes the requests for deposits are usually in cryptocurrency.
The language to recognise
| Phrase | What it is hiding |
|---|---|
| Product boosting or optimisation tasks | Clicks that create no real value |
| Commission per task | A balance that exists only in the scam's app |
| Combination task or lucky order | A sudden task that 'requires' a top-up |
| Recharge or top up your account | A request for your own money |
| Your mentor will guide you | A scammer keeping you engaged |
The FTC also warns not to trust anyone who says they will pay you to give positive ratings or like things online, and that no honest company will do that.
Getting out if you have started
Stop and protect yourself
- Do not deposit any more money, whatever the app says about losing your balance.
- Do not pay a 'fee' or 'tax' to withdraw; that is the same scam.
- Contact your bank or the exchange or payment service you used and report the scam.
- Report it: in the US at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and in the UK to Report Fraud (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland, as GOV.UK explains.
- Be wary of anyone who later offers to recover your money for a fee.
Illustrative example
The moment the request changes
- Day 1: 'You earned commission on 40 tasks today. Well done!'
- Day 3: 'You have received a combination task. Top up your account to complete it and release your earnings.'
The shift from earning to paying is the scam. Stop at that point.
What genuine online work looks like
Real remote work comes from an employer or platform you can verify, with a contract or terms, and pays you without asking for deposits. If you are unsure about a company named in a message, look it up through official registries and its own website, never through the link you were sent.
Common questions
I was paid a small amount. Does that mean it is real?
No. The FTC explains that small early payouts are used to gain trust before the request for your own money.
Can I get my deposits back?
Sometimes, if you act quickly through your bank or payment provider, but recovery is not certain. Report the scam promptly and avoid paid 'recovery' services that contact you.
Sources
- FTC consumer alert: how to spot and avoid task scamsUS Federal Trade Commission · US · checked 3 October 2026
- FTC consumer alert: that job offer text is probably a scamUS Federal Trade Commission · US · checked 3 October 2026
- GOV.UK: avoid and report internet scams and phishingGOV.UK · UK · checked 3 October 2026
Put it into practice
See how Luceria helps with thisDrafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.