--- title: "Task job scams: paid to like videos? Read this | TapSafely" url: https://tapsafely.com/scams/task-job-scams source: TapSafely description: "A recruiter offers easy remote work rating products or liking videos. Then you have to pay to unlock your earnings. Learn the pattern and the red flags." --- [Home](https://tapsafely.com/)/[Scam guides](https://tapsafely.com/scams/)/ Task-based job scams # Task-based job scams An unexpected message offers flexible remote work, often “optimising apps” or “boosting products”, for a surprisingly good daily wage. The first small payouts are real. That's the hook. By the TapSafely editorial team · Updated 16 September 2026 · 3 min read ## In short A recruiter offers easy remote work rating products or liking videos. Then you have to pay to unlock your earnings. Learn the pattern and the red flags. **Top warning signs:** A job you never applied for; High pay for trivial tasks; Moving to WhatsApp or Telegram. **First thing to do:** Don't reply, and block the sender. Report the chat in the app. Example · WhatsApp · Illustrative, links disabled Hannah, HR Recruiter Hello! I'm Hannah from a digital marketing agency. We found your CV online. We offer part-time remote work: simply rate products in our app, 30-60 minutes per day, earn £120-£400 daily. No experience needed. Can I send you details on Telegram? An example scam message with the warning signs highlighted. ## How the scam works You're added to a group where others (fake accounts) celebrate their earnings. You complete simple tasks in a website or app and see commission building up. You may even withdraw a small amount. Then you get a “combination task” or “premium order” that puts your account in negative balance. To continue, and to get your earnings, you must deposit your own money, usually in crypto. The deposits grow until you give up. ## Red flags to look for - **A job you never applied for.** Real recruiters rarely offer a job without an interview. - **High pay for trivial tasks.** Liking videos or rating products doesn't pay hundreds a day. - **Moving to WhatsApp or Telegram.** Scammers avoid platforms with protections. - **Paying to work or to unlock earnings.** A real employer never asks you to pay them. ## What to do if you get one 1. Don't reply, and block the sender. Report the chat in the app. 2. Look up the company yourself and contact it through its official website. ## If you already paid or shared details ### Act quickly. It makes a difference. 1. Stop depositing. The “negative balance” will never clear. 2. Report to your bank or crypto exchange and to the police. Keep all chat history and wallet addresses. 3. Watch for recovery scams offering to get your money back. More help: [what to do after a scam, and where to report it in your country](https://tapsafely.com/been-scammed). ## Questions people ask They paid me at the start. Doesn't that make it legitimate? Early payouts are a deliberate trust-building step. They are small amounts compared with what they plan to take. ## Official sources and further reading We check our guides against advice from government agencies and consumer protection bodies. - [Jobs and employment scams](https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/jobs-and-employment-scams) (Scamwatch, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) - [Scammers Defraud Individuals via Work-From-Home Scams](https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA240604) (US FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center) - [Job fraud](https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/scams-fraudes/job-emploi-eng.htm) (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre) ### Got a message like this? Paste the message or link Check it free ### Still unsure? Describe what happened and our AI assistant will help, in any language. Ask TapSafely ### On this page 1. [How it works](#how) 2. [Red flags](#red-flags) 3. [What to do](#what-to-do) 4. [If you already paid](#already-paid) 5. [Questions](#faq) 6. [Sources](#sources) ### Seen this scam? Your report helps warn people in your area. [Report it](https://tapsafely.com/report?category=job) ## Related guides [Guide ### Crypto and investment scams Guaranteed returns, deepfake celebrity ads and platforms that won't let you withdraw. How investment scams work and how … Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/crypto-investment-scams)[Guide ### Fund-recovery scams After a scam, people are often targeted again by fake lawyers, hackers or agencies promising to recover lost money for a… Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/recovery-scams)[Guide ### Romance scams An online partner who can't meet or video call, then needs money. Learn the warning signs of romance scams and how to ta… Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/romance-scams)