Scams & fraud
Is this WhatsApp job offer or online “task” work a scam?
A friendly recruiter messages you about flexible work from home. The job is simple: rate products, like videos or “optimise” apps, and earn a commission for each task. You might even be paid a small amount at first. Then you’re asked to top up your account to unlock the next batch of tasks. That’s the scam.
The short version
The clear warning sign
- Any job that asks you to pay money to earn money is a scam.
- Real employers don’t recruit by unsolicited WhatsApp messages.
- Small early payouts are bait, not proof.
- Stop, don’t “top up” to withdraw, and report it.
How task scams work
The approach
It starts with a message on WhatsApp, Telegram, text or a job site from a “recruiter”. They might use the name of a real recruitment company or online retailer. The work sounds easy and flexible, with generous pay.
The training
You’re added to a group chat with other “workers”, many of them part of the scam, who share screenshots of their earnings. A trainer shows you a website or app where you complete tasks and watch your balance grow.
The first payout
You may be allowed to withdraw a small amount. This is deliberate. It makes the job feel real and gets you invested.
The top-up
Then a “combination task” or “premium order” appears that puts your account into a negative balance. To continue, or to withdraw what you’ve earned, you need to deposit your own money, often in cryptocurrency. Each deposit leads to another, larger one. The balance on screen is not real money.
Warning signs
- You were contacted out of the blue, often by someone you’ve never applied to.
- The pay is high for very simple, repetitive work.
- There’s no interview, contract, tax file number declaration or proper onboarding.
- Communication happens only on WhatsApp or Telegram.
- You’re asked to pay for anything: training, a deposit, unlocking tasks, a withdrawal fee or taxes on your earnings.
- Payment involves cryptocurrency or transfers to individuals.
The one rule that catches all of them
A real job never asks you to pay money in order to get paid. The moment money needs to flow from you to the “employer”, stop.
If you’re in one now
- Stop depositing. You won’t get the balance out by paying more. Scammers will keep inventing new fees.
- Don’t give them more personal information, especially ID documents or bank logins.
- Screenshot the chats, the website and your transactions before leaving the group.
- Call your bank about any transfers. If you bought crypto through an Australian exchange, contact the exchange too.
- Report it to Scamwatch and ReportCyber.
- If you sent ID documents, contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160.
Be careful of anyone who contacts you afterwards offering to recover your money for a fee, including people claiming to be lawyers, police or blockchain investigators. Recovery scams target people who have just lost money.
Checking a genuine job offer
- Search for the company’s official website yourself and contact them through it to ask whether the role exists.
- Check the business on the ABN Lookup register.
- Expect a written offer, a contract and normal employment paperwork.
- Be cautious of any role that asks you to receive money and send it on. That can be money laundering, even if you don’t realise it.
Common questions
They paid me real money at the start. Doesn’t that prove it’s real?
No. Small payouts are part of the script. They cost the scammer very little compared with what they hope you’ll deposit.
The company name is a real business. Is that enough?
Scammers often borrow real brand names. Contact the business through its official website to check.
Can I get my crypto back?
It’s often very difficult. Report it quickly anyway, because reports help authorities disrupt the networks and sometimes freeze funds.
Sources
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. If you think you’ve lost money or personal information, contact your bank and the services named above straight away.
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