Task Scams in Sweden
Fake micro-task job offers targeting Swedish residents on WhatsApp and Telegram, requiring upfront deposits that are never returned.
Part of: Task Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Task scams — where victims are promised per-task payment for simple online jobs such as liking videos, rating products, or boosting app scores — have grown significantly in Sweden. Victims are recruited via WhatsApp or Telegram in Swedish, asked to complete initial tasks for small SEK rewards that are paid out to build trust, then gradually pressured into making deposits to unlock higher-paying task batches.
Konsumentverket and Swedish cybercrime police have noted task scams as a rising category, disproportionately affecting young adults and students seeking supplemental income.
How this scam works on Sweden
A WhatsApp message offers SEK 200–500 per hour for simple tasks completed via a Telegram bot or proprietary app. Early tasks are simple and small payments arrive promptly, establishing trust.
As task batches grow, a deposit is required to 'unlock' the next tier. The deposit is framed as a refundable security amount. Once paid, tasks require further deposits before the promised withdrawal can proceed. Withdrawals are perpetually blocked.
Some Swedish-language variants pose as legitimate Swedish e-commerce platforms needing product review boosting, adding apparent legitimacy.
Common red flags
- Job offer arriving via WhatsApp or Telegram without a formal application process
- Early payments arrive to build trust before deposit requirements emerge
- Deposit required to 'unlock' a higher-paying task batch
- Withdrawal requires another deposit before processing
- Employer cannot be found via Bolagsverket (Swedish company register) or allabolag.se
- Communication switches from Swedish to broken Swedish or English when pressed on details
How to protect yourself
- Reject any income offer that eventually requires you to deposit your own money
- Verify any employer via Bolagsverket at bolagsverket.se before accepting any task job
- Report task scam messages to Polisen at polisen.se
- Warn students and young adults in your network about this fraud pattern
- Consult Konsumentverket at konsumentverket.se if you have been defrauded
How to report it
- Report to Polisen at polisen.se
- Report the WhatsApp or Telegram account to the platform directly
- File a complaint with Konsumentverket at konsumentverket.se
Frequently asked questions
I've already paid a deposit to unlock more tasks — should I pay again to get my money back?
No — paying further deposits will not release your original funds or unlock a real withdrawal; it only feeds the same pattern. Stop paying immediately and report the account to Polisen and the messaging platform.
How can I check if a task-based job offer in Sweden is from a real company?
Search the company name at bolagsverket.se or allabolag.se to confirm it's a registered Swedish business, and check whether the job also appears on the company's own official channels. A legitimate employer will never ask you to pay to start working.
Is it a scam if the task job pays out small amounts on time at first?
Not proof on its own, but early small payouts are a well-known trust-building tactic used specifically to encourage larger deposits later. Be especially cautious the moment any task requires you to pay money rather than simply complete work.
Why do task scammers pay out early before asking for deposits?
Initial payouts are a deliberate trust-building tactic. Once victims have received real SEK, they are more psychologically willing to make deposits to unlock larger earnings — and less likely to question the legitimacy.