Alright, imagine this: You’re chilling on your couch, scrolling through your phone, when suddenly—BAM! A mysterious message pops up, promising you a quick fortune just by clicking away. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, hold your horses because this dream could quickly turn into a nightmare.

Welcome to the world of task scams or, as I like to call them, the “clickbait con.” Here’s the plot: You get an unexpected message on platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, or even social media. The message claims you can make quick money doing simple online tasks like “optimization” or “product boosting.” Intrigued? That’s exactly what they want!

Here’s how it unfolds: You start clicking tasks through an app or online platform, earning these so-called “commissions” with every click. You might even see your earnings add up in the app. Spoiler alert: They’re as real as unicorns. But, to make you think it’s legit, the scammers might toss you a little bone—like $5 to $20—just to reel you in.

Now for the twist in this scammy tale: To continue your “work” (and to supposedly cash out your earnings), the scammers ask you to deposit your own money—often in cryptocurrency. A little deposit, they say, and you’ll unlock that treasure chest of earnings! Only, you won’t. You’ll just watch your real money disappear faster than a magician’s rabbit.

Want to sidestep this scam? Here are some golden rules:

  1. Ignore those generic, unexpected job messages: Whether they’re sliding into your DMs or texting you out of the blue, legit employers don’t do that.

  2. Never pay to get paid: If they’re asking you to shell out money to receive money, that’s a flashing red warning sign!

  3. Be skeptical of offers to pay for positive ratings or likes: No reputable company is going to pay you for online popularity.

Stay sharp, stay safe, and keep your wallet in your pocket! Want more tips on spotting scams? Head over to ftc.gov/scams. And if you spot one of these scams, be a hero and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Original article URL: FTC Article on Task Scams

Original article: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/08/how-spot-and-avoid-task-scams