Task Scams in Australia
How fake app-rating and product-review jobs targeting Australian workers via WhatsApp and Telegram use OSKO transfers and crypto to extract money.
Part of: Task Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Task scams — where victims are recruited for fake online jobs and progressively asked to deposit funds to 'unlock' earnings — have been extensively reported to Scamwatch in Australia. Australian victims are typically recruited through WhatsApp or Telegram with messages offering remote work reviewing products or rating apps for $200–$500 per day.
Because Australia's PayID and OSKO instant payment infrastructure processes bank transfers in seconds, scammers can quickly move deposits before any fraud alert is triggered. Some operations also use crypto as the deposit vehicle.
How this scam works on Australia
The typical Australian task scam begins with an unsolicited WhatsApp message from a foreign number offering a part-time remote job. After initial unpaid tasks, the victim is told their first earnings batch requires a small 'account balance' deposit — paid by PayID or crypto — to be credited. The platform shows accumulating earnings that are never withdrawable.
Scammers use Australian-sounding company names and sometimes register an ABN to appear legitimate. Victims are encouraged to deposit larger amounts to access higher-paying task tiers, each tier requiring more funds. By the time the scam is recognised, multiple deposits have been made and the recruiter has vanished from WhatsApp.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited WhatsApp message offering remote reviewing or rating work from an international number
- Job that requires a PayID or crypto deposit before any earnings are credited
- Platform showing growing balances that cannot be withdrawn without further deposits
- Company with an ABN that cannot be verified through ASIC's business register
- Recruiter who only communicates via WhatsApp and avoids phone or video contact
How to protect yourself
- Verify any remote employer through ASIC's business register at abr.business.gov.au
- Treat any job requiring an upfront deposit as fraudulent regardless of the ABN claimed
- Report suspicious WhatsApp contacts to WhatsApp and Scamwatch immediately
- Contact your bank immediately if a PayID transfer was made — OSKO transfers may be flagged for recall if reported quickly
- Screenshot all communications before blocking and reporting
How to report it
- Report to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au — Australian Signals Directorate partners with Scamwatch to investigate
- Report to your bank or financial institution; Australian banks have a Scam-Safe Accord obligation to assist
- File a report with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) if losses are significant
Frequently asked questions
Can PayID transfers made to a task scam be reversed in Australia?
OSKO/PayID transfers are designed to be instant, but Australian banks can attempt to recall funds through the BECS dispute process. Contact your bank the same day and explicitly state you believe you are a victim of fraud. The sooner you report, the better the chance of a successful recall.