Task scam

What it means

A scammer offers simple online tasks, shows fake earnings, then asks you to deposit money to unlock more tasks or withdraw your pay.

Example

A site says you earned money by rating products, but you must add funds before you can cash out.

Warning signs

• You must pay to receive your earnings.
• The work is vague or unusually easy.
• The platform shows fake balances or commissions.
• A recruiter contacts you through random texts or messaging apps.

Safer next steps

• Do not pay money to withdraw wages.
• Research the company outside the platform.
• Stop if your balance becomes dependent on deposits.
• Save screenshots and messages before reporting.