Has there been a notification on WhatsApp or Messages on your iPhone lately regarding an intriguing employment offer? The Federal Trade Commission’s warning concerning gamified text message job scams, often known as “task scams,” makes it obvious that you’re not alone.
As per FTC, scams that offer game-like jobs—in which users do online activities for pay—have increased fourfold in the first half of 2024.
According to the FTC, reports of these scams climbed from zero in 2020 to 5,000 in 2023 before quadrupling to almost 20,000 in the first half of 2022.
The FTC claims that a WhatsApp or text message offering paid online labor is frequently the first step in these job frauds. Scammers may give victims tiny payouts after they begin fulfilling tasks, giving them a false sense of confidence regarding the legality of the employment.
With the promise of greater returns, the scammers encourage victims to give them their money, generally in cryptocurrencies using gamification techniques, before taking off with the money.
Here is what FTC has to say on this issue:
“Task scams ask you to do simple repetitive tasks such as liking videos or rating product images. Your “job” is to complete these tasks in an app or online platform that creates the illusion you’re racking up commissions with every click. Tasks are often assigned in sets of forty, with the promise of leveling up once you complete your set. You may even get a so-called double task that earns a bigger commission. Many people report getting small payouts at first, which give them greater trust in the system.
So how do these scammers steal your money while making you think you’re earning money? At some point, they’ll say you have to make a deposit to complete your next set of tasks and get your supposed earnings out of the app. You “charge up” your account to avoid losing what the app shows you’ve earned, believing you’ll get all the money you deposited back, along with your commission, once you complete the set. But no matter what the system says you’ve earned, you didn’t. That money isn’t real. And if you deposit money, you won’t get it back.”
According to reports, recently, there has been an increase in employment-related frauds, which includes these fake online job offers. From 2020 to 2023, the total recorded losses from employment scams increased thrice, and in the first half of 2024, they exceeded $220 million.
According to statistics, approximately 40% of work fraud reports in 2024 were task scams alone.
The FTC advises against paying someone with the promise of payment at a later date or time and to disregard offers from unfamiliar WhatsApp messages or texts. Also, the commission advises against accepting job offers demanding to like or rate something on the internet, a practice that the FTC claims illegal.
In a nutshell, be aware of any job ad that asks you to rate or like posts or videos online.