Is a job that asks me to rate hotels or restaurants online a scam?
Yes. Paid review jobs are a common cover for task scams that eventually demand you deposit money to unlock earnings.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
The job advertisement promises easy income for rating businesses on a special platform. After completing a few free tasks, you are assigned 'combo' or 'special' tasks that offer higher rewards — but require you to first deposit funds into the platform. Your dashboard shows growing earnings, but you can only withdraw after completing all tasks in a session. Sessions are designed to require ever-larger deposits, and withdrawals are blocked by new fees. No legitimate review platform pays workers upfront commissions or requires deposits. Real market research jobs pay through payroll or legitimate freelance platforms, never through a deposit model.
Common red flags
- Job offered via WhatsApp, Telegram, or a random text
- Platform has a proprietary dashboard you access via a link
- Early tasks are free, but 'combo tasks' require deposits
- Earnings visible but not withdrawable until session is complete
- Supervisor encourages you to borrow money to complete tasks
What to do now
- Stop participating and do not deposit more money
- Report the scam to your national consumer protection authority
- Warn others in any group chat where the job was shared
- If you deposited, contact your bank or payment service immediately
Frequently asked questions
I made small withdrawals early on — does that mean it is legitimate?
Small early payouts are deliberate. They build trust so you deposit larger amounts later. This is a standard confidence-building tactic in task scams.