Task Scams in Bulgaria
Fake online task jobs target Bulgarians via Viber and Telegram with promises of easy leva income before entrapping them in a deposit cycle.
Part of: Task Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Task scams have entered the Bulgarian market through Viber and Telegram group recruitment, promising part-time income for completing simple online tasks such as rating apps, reviewing businesses, or clicking product links. The schemes mirror patterns documented across Asia and Latin America but are adapted for Bulgarian payment infrastructure.
Victims transfer leva via Bulgarian bank transfer or Revolut before discovering that withdrawals are systematically blocked until further deposits are made.
How this scam works on Bulgaria
Unsolicited Viber messages offer BGN 50–200 per day for clicking online advertisements or reviewing Google Maps locations. Early task completions result in genuine small payouts of BGN 5–20, building trust. An invitation to a 'VIP tier' then requires a deposit of BGN 100–2,000 to unlock larger-paying tasks.
The platform — typically a website or APK app — shows the deposited amount plus projected earnings, but withdrawal attempts are blocked until the balance reaches a specific round amount that requires at least one more deposit. Once the victim refuses to deposit further, the account is frozen and the recruiter's contact vanishes.
Some operations are run by organised groups that coordinate multiple mule accounts to receive deposits, cycling funds quickly before victims can initiate recalls.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited Viber message offering easy money for clicking or rating tasks
- Initial small payouts feel real, then a deposit is required for higher tiers
- Task platform is an APK requiring sideloading from a Telegram link
- Withdrawal requires balance to reach a round number just beyond current deposits
- Group chat shows identical-format success posts from apparent colleagues
- Recruiter disappears or group is deleted when you question the withdrawal block
How to protect yourself
- Treat all unsolicited Viber or Telegram job offers as potential scams
- Legitimate employment never requires you to deposit your own money before receiving pay
- Do not install APK files from links sent by strangers
- Report the recruiting Viber number to Viber Trust and Safety
- If you have deposited, cease immediately — further deposits will not help
- Warn friends and family who may have received the same message
How to report it
- Report to GDBOP cybercrime portal at cybercrime.bg
- File a complaint with local police for fraud
- Report the Viber or Telegram account via the platform's in-app reporting tools
Frequently asked questions
Are any legitimate micro-task platforms available in Bulgaria?
Legitimate micro-task platforms do exist globally (e.g., Clickworker, Amazon MTurk), but they are accessed through their official websites and never require upfront deposits. Any platform that demands a deposit before you can withdraw earnings is fraudulent.