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'Task' job scams that end in investing: how they work

Updated on October 29, 2026

You get a WhatsApp or Telegram message from a supposed recruitment agency: a work-from-home job, a few minutes a day, no experience needed. You just have to like videos, rate products, review hotels or “optimise” apps. At first they really pay you. That is the trap.

How it works

  1. The offer. An unsolicited message (“Hi, we saw your CV…”) with an attractive wage for simple tasks. Sometimes they use the names of real companies or well-known recruiters.
  2. The first paid tasks. You receive small payments for the first tasks. Now you trust them.
  3. The group or platform. You are moved to a Telegram group or a website where you watch your “commissions” pile up.
  4. “Premium tasks”. To continue or unlock higher commissions you have to deposit money, usually in crypto. You are told you will get it back with your earnings.
  5. The spiral. Each level requires a bigger deposit. When you try to withdraw, your account shows a “negative balance” you must cover, or you are asked for a fee. The money never comes back.

Warning signs

  • They contact you on WhatsApp or Telegram without you applying.
  • They pay a lot for tasks that require nothing.
  • There is no contract, interview or identifiable company.
  • You are asked to pay or invest to be able to work or to get paid.
  • They talk about “commissions”, “levels”, “combo tasks” or “negative balance”.
  • They ask for payments in cryptocurrency.

No real job asks you for money so you can receive your wages.

What to do

  • Do not deposit money for any reason, even if they say it unlocks what you have already earned.
  • Block and report the numbers and groups on WhatsApp or Telegram.
  • If you have already paid, contact your bank or the exchange you sent the money from: how to try to get a payment back.
  • Report it to the police with screenshots of the chats and payments.
  • Do not share your bank details or ID documents: they can be used for other fraud.

This scam works like fake crypto platforms and WhatsApp and Telegram investment groups: a screen showing a balance you will never be able to withdraw.

Weekly summary of the fraudulent investment platforms we detect in social media ads. Read this week’s report →

Already signed up or paid?

  1. Do not pay anything else, even if they ask for "taxes" or "fees" to release your money.
  2. Call your bank today: block your card and request a chargeback or a transfer recall. The sooner, the better your chances.
  3. Do not install anything they ask for (AnyDesk, TeamViewer…). If you did, uninstall it and change your passwords.
  4. Report it to the police and your country’s regulator, and keep screenshots, emails and phone numbers.
  5. Beware of "fund recovery" companies that will contact you promising to get your money back for a fee: they are almost always a second scam.
Full guide for victims → · I installed AnyDesk for an investment 'advisor': what to do right now · Chargebacks: how to try to get money back from a fake investment platform · Fund recovery scams: the second scam targeting victims · How to report an investment scam (UK, US, Canada, Australia and more)

Guides on investment scams