Have you received a notification from Messages or WhatsApp regarding an intriguing job offer lately? You’re not by yourself, as the recent alert from the FTC about text message gamified job scams, also known as ‘task scams’, indicates.
Task scams may promise genuine rewards, but they primarily aim to build trust and defraud you of substantial amounts
Today, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) released a new article focused on protecting consumers.
The topic? A specific type of job scam referred to as a task scam.
Task scams often start with a message sent via text or WhatsApp, presenting a job opportunity that guarantees impressive payouts for minimal, game-like ‘work.’
The FTC explains:
Task scams request you to perform simple, repetitive actions like liking videos or reviewing product images. Your “job” involves completing these tasks on an app or online site that creates the illusion of earning commissions with every action. Tasks are frequently organized into groups of forty, with the promise of advancing to the next level upon completion. You might even encounter a so-called double task offering a greater commission. Many victims report receiving small payments initially, which fosters deeper trust in the platform.
But how do these con artists exploit your trust while deceiving you into thinking you’re making money? Eventually, they’ll inform you that a deposit is necessary to proceed with your next tasks and access your supposed earnings within the app. You “charge up” your account, believing that you’ll recover your initial deposit along with your commission after completing the assigned tasks. However, regardless of what the system claims, you haven’t actually earned that money. It’s fictitious. If you deposit funds, you won’t see them return.
- 1,000 reports in 2022
- 5,000 reports in 2023
- 20,000 reports in just the first half of 2024
The actual number of people affected is likely much larger, as many incidents probably go unreported. Nonetheless, these numbers highlight a concerning trend of increasing scams.
DMN’s Perspective
I’ve personally encountered numerous task scam text messages on my iPhone, particularly over the past year. They can be quite disarming and persuasive, much like the most effective scams.
Text spam remains a persistent issue for both iPhone and Android users, but this situation underscores the critical need for more robust message filtering mechanisms—not only to prevent irritating messages but also to safeguard unsuspecting users from falling victim to scams.
Have you received messages related to task scams? Share your experience in the comments.
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