Task Scams in Costa Rica
Fake micro-task jobs reaching Costa Ricans via WhatsApp promise easy colone income for online tasks before trapping victims in a SINPE Móvil deposit cycle.
Part of: Task Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Task scams have reached Costa Rica through WhatsApp recruitment messages targeting job-seekers, students, and homemakers with promises of CRC 15,000–50,000 per day for liking social media posts, rating apps, or completing online surveys.
The use of SINPE Móvil as the deposit and payment mechanism makes these scams feel uniquely local and trustworthy — victims reason that a SINPE-based platform must be operating within Costa Rica's banking system. This impression is deliberately cultivated by the scam operators.
How this scam works on Costa Rica
An unsolicited WhatsApp message introduces a 'regional representative' of a named company seeking Costa Rican market feedback. After completing a few free tasks through a Telegram bot or website, the victim is invited to a 'premium membership' requiring a SINPE Móvil deposit of CRC 20,000–200,000.
The platform shows the deposit plus a commission in the account, but withdrawal requires completing a 'combo assignment' totalling a round number always just above the current balance. Each combo requires another deposit. The group chat is populated with bots posting withdrawal success messages in Spanish to maintain the illusion of a working system.
Money mules are recruited from among victims themselves, with operators offering extra commission to those willing to receive and forward SINPE payments — unknowingly facilitating money laundering.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited WhatsApp job offer requiring no qualifications
- Tasks pay out initially, then a SINPE Móvil deposit is required for higher-paying work
- Platform is a Telegram bot or sideloaded app — not on Google Play
- Withdrawal requires topping up balance to a specific round amount
- Group chat filled with identical-format Spanish success posts
- Offer of extra pay for forwarding payments through your own bank account
How to protect yourself
- Treat all unsolicited WhatsApp job offers as suspicious, regardless of local payment methods
- Legitimate employers do not require employees to deposit funds before receiving pay
- Do not use your bank account to receive and forward payments for third parties
- Report the recruiting WhatsApp number to your bank and to the OIJ
- Verify company registration with Costa Rica's Registro de Personas Jurídicas
- Warn contacts who may receive the same recruitment message
How to report it
- File a complaint with the OIJ cybercrime unit at oij.go.cr
- Report to the Ministerio Público for fraud (estafa) charges
- Notify your bank if your account was used as a mule account
Frequently asked questions
Can I be held liable for forwarding SINPE payments for a task scam?
Knowingly or negligently participating in money movement for a fraud operation can result in criminal liability in Costa Rica. If your account was used without full understanding, report to your bank and the OIJ immediately to establish your good faith.