Task Scams via bKash
How fraudulent micro-task platforms in Bangladesh exploit bKash to collect deposits from workers seeking online income.
Part of: Task Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
bKash is Bangladesh's most widely used mobile financial service, with more than [tens of millions] of registered accounts. Its deep penetration among urban and semi-urban populations — including students and young workers looking for supplementary income — makes it the primary payment tool for task-scam operators in Bangladesh.
Scammers recruit through Facebook groups and SMS blasts, offering payment for simple tasks such as app installs, video views, or product ratings. bKash is used both to pay initial bait commissions and to collect escalating 'registration' and 'tier upgrade' deposits.
How this scam works on bKash
A fraudulent employer contacts the victim through Facebook Messenger or a shared group and offers to pay [amount] taka per task batch. The first one or two batches are paid via bKash promptly, establishing that the system works. The victim is then told that higher-paying work requires a bKash deposit to 'activate' the premium account tier.
After the deposit, additional requirements appear — a new batch fails, or the account is temporarily blocked pending a further payment. Once the victim stops paying, the recruiter becomes unreachable. bKash person-to-person transfers are difficult to reverse after completion, and the scammer cycles through new SIM cards to avoid identification.
Common red flags
- Job found through a Facebook post or SMS with no formal employer website or registration
- Early bKash payments replaced by requests for a deposit to access better-paying tasks
- Zero skill requirement and income projections that far exceed Bangladesh minimum wage for minimal effort
- bKash payment sent to a personal number rather than a merchant or business account
- Screenshots of large bKash inflows shared in a group to create social proof
- Supervisor urges you to recruit contacts for a bonus — a hallmark of pyramid structure
How to protect yourself
- Never send bKash to an individual as a prerequisite for receiving job earnings
- Verify the employer at the Bangladesh Registrar of Joint Stock Companies before engaging
- Check whether the Facebook page advertising the job was created recently — pages under 30 days old are high-risk
- Contact bKash customer support at 16247 if you suspect a bKash number is being used for fraud
- Limit any upfront financial exposure to zero — legitimate task platforms pay out, they do not collect
How to report it
- Call bKash customer care at 16247 and report the recipient number with your transaction ID
- File a report with the Bangladesh Cyber Police or the BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission)
- Report the Facebook group or page through Meta's abuse reporting mechanism
Frequently asked questions
Can bKash freeze an account reported as fraudulent?
bKash can place a temporary restriction on accounts flagged by its fraud monitoring team. Reversal of completed transfers depends on whether the recipient has already cashed out. Report immediately after discovering fraud — within the same business day if possible — and provide your transaction reference number and any supporting screenshots.