Task Scams in China
Brush-order scams (shua dan) defraud Chinese workers by promising pay for fake e-commerce reviews before trapping them in a deposit cycle.
Part of: Task Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Task scams in China are frequently referred to as 'shua dan' (brush orders) — originally a grey practice where e-commerce sellers paid reviewers to purchase and review products. Fraudsters co-opted this concept, recruiting workers on short-video platforms (Douyin, Kuaishou) and messaging apps with promises of easy income for completing online tasks.
The MPS has repeatedly identified shua dan fraud as one of the top cybercrime categories in China, with millions of victims. Despite widespread media coverage and government campaigns, new victims continue to fall for the scam because early payouts feel genuine.
How this scam works on China
Victims are recruited via Douyin or QQ groups advertising 20–100 yuan per task for leaving product reviews or clicking listings. Initial tasks pay out. When a victim is invited to a 'premium' task requiring a deposit of 300–5,000 yuan to 'activate the order,' the trap is set.
The task platform — typically a mini-program on WeChat or a standalone app — shows the deposit plus a commission growing in real time, but withdrawal is blocked pending the completion of a 'full set' of tasks, which always requires at least one more deposit. The cycle continues until the victim cannot pay more.
Some operations use elaborate group theatres: dozens of accounts in a WeChat group congratulate 'successful' members who have just withdrawn large sums, all fabricated to maintain victim confidence.
Common red flags
- Douyin or QQ advertisement for online work requiring no skills and paying per click or review
- Initial task payouts are genuine; subsequent tasks require a deposit
- Task platform is a WeChat mini-program or sideloaded APK not from an official store
- Withdrawal requires completing a specific number of tasks totalling a round number
- Group chat fills with identical-looking withdrawal success posts
- Customer service insists more deposits will resolve a 'stuck' withdrawal
How to protect yourself
- Treat all 'shua dan' or brush-order opportunities as inherently risky and likely fraudulent
- Never deposit your own money to receive pay from an online task platform
- Download only from official app stores — Huawei AppGallery, Xiaomi GetApps, or Tencent MyApp
- Report suspicious mini-programs to Tencent via the in-program report function
- Warn younger family members who may encounter these ads on Douyin
- Check whether the offering platform is registered with relevant trade authorities
How to report it
- Report to the MPS National Anti-Fraud Center app (Guojia Fanpian Zhongxin) — available for iOS and Android
- Call the 96110 anti-fraud hotline operated by the MPS
- Report the recruiting account to the relevant platform (Douyin, QQ, WeChat)
Frequently asked questions
Is brush-order work (shua dan) itself illegal in China?
Yes. Fake reviews and inflated sales data violate China's E-Commerce Law and Advertising Law. Participating — even as a victim initially — can carry minor legal liability. The fraudulent deposit variant is additionally prosecuted as fraud under the Criminal Law.