Easy Tasks, Real Money? The Hidden Danger Behind Task Scams

“Want to earn £200 a day from your phone?”

That’s the message flooding WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and even TikTok these days. What’s behind the claim? Just a regular ‘task scam’ that promises job seekers quick rewards. They offer users just enough to reel them in.  

What Is a Task Scam?

Task scams are fake online gig schemes that:

• Promise quick micro-tasks (like “liking” videos, reviewing apps, or sharing content) for easy money
• Feature polished dashboards, fake testimonials, contracts and even mock interviews.
• Display “early earnings” to build trust.

Task scams aren’t just an isolated issue. According to a recent public warning from Lloyds Bank, job-related fraud reports have risen 237%, including task scams. The average victim, they said, loses around £1,420, and some have lost more than £5,000.

The UK consumer organization Which? expanded on the subject. One British woman in her 70s told the organization that she was contacted by someone claiming to work with Google Travels UK. She believed she was helping to improve search algorithms by completing small online tasks. By the time her family discovered what was happening, she had lost tens of thousands of pounds.

“This was to encourage a ‘mark’ like me to keep doing tasks and transferring money,” the woman said. “It’s a never-ending spiral of transfers and you keep thinking, if I complete this task I will get my deposits back. After four days, I was elevated to VIP level and was asked to transfer a huge sum to complete the task and get a big payout. That’s when the penny dropped.”

Another victim reported losing $26,000 after joining a Telegram group that promised lucrative bonuses for simple assignments.

The UK’s Action Fraud received over 20,000 reports related to task scams in just a six-month period last year. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission reported more than $260 million in losses tied to job and crypto-related scams during the same period.

Researchers at Bitdefender Labs have also reported on the task scam pandemic since early 2023. People were being lured into what seemed like harmless side gigs: liking videos, reviewing apps, even boosting visibility for YouTube channels. The pay was modest but real, or so it seemed. Behind the glossy dashboards lay a highly manipulative scam.

It always starts small. You get a message, sometimes on Telegram, sometimes on WhatsApp or Instagram from someone claiming to represent a company like Amazon, Booking.com, or Google. The recruiter’s tone is polite and friendly. They offer part-time work that sounds both legitimate and effortless. “You’ll help boost online content and optimize visibility,” they say. “We pay per task, and you can start right away.”

Many don’t question it. Who wouldn’t want to make a little extra income from home for simply clicking a few buttons?

You’re directed to sign up on what looks like a professional platform. You complete a few tasks such as liking a video on YouTube and submitting a review, then you see your balance grow. You’re paid small amounts early on, just enough to feel confident that it’s real.

But soon, the tone changes.

A Psychological Trap Disguised as a Gig

To continue or “unlock” your earnings, you're told you need to pay a small fee, maybe to activate a VIP tier, fix a technical issue, or secure higher commissions. The dashboard still shows your growing balance. You’re assured that you’re just one step away from accessing your funds.

And so, victims keep paying.

They’re told the balance will be released after this next task, this next deposit. But the money never comes. The dashboard eventually goes dark. The Telegram group disappears. And the scammers vanish without a trace.

What makes task scams particularly effective is their emotional design. Scammers prey on optimism, ambition, and the universal appeal of quick money. They create an illusion of progress.

How Scammers Reach You

Scammers may target you via:

• WhatsApp/Telegram: “You’ve been selected for part-time online work!”
• TikTok & Instagram: Influencer-style posts advertising easy money.
• Facebook: Fake recruiter profiles claiming affiliation with Amazon, Booking.com or Google

How to Stay Safe

The clearest sign of a task scam? If someone asks you to pay to earn, whether for unlocking commissions, accessing bonuses, or fixing technical issues—it’s not a job. It’s a scam. Legitimate employers never require payment upfront.

If you’re approached out of the blue about a job, take a moment to check. Visit the official company website. Search for the job on LinkedIn.

Follow these quick tips to stay safe:

• Ignore unsolicited job approaches—especially via chat apps.
• Never pay upfront or send crypto to unlock earnings.
• Check the company directly through its official site and careers page.
• Use scam-detection tools like Bitdefender Scamio to check suspicious job offers and Link Checker to filter fraudulent or malicious links before you click them.
• Report any suspicious activity.