Job Task-Scam Onboarding Chat Script
This scam recruits victims for simple remote work, such as rating products or boosting social media content, through a chat platform. After a few small, genuinely paid tasks build trust, the scam introduces 'combo' tasks requiring the victim to deposit their own money to unlock a larger commission or continue the sequence. Fabricated dashboard balances make it look like large earnings are accumulating and just out of reach, encouraging bigger deposits to recover what's already 'invested.' The most important step is to stop and withdraw as soon as a task asks you to pay your own money.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Congratulations! You have been selected for our remote data optimisation team. Your first task set is now available. Complete them to earn [amount] today. Your supervisor will guide you on Telegram.
Welcome to the team! To activate your account and receive your first commission of [amount], please make a deposit of [amount] to your task wallet. This is refunded on completion.
You have completed 20 tasks and earned [amount] — amazing! To withdraw, your account needs to reach [higher amount]. Simply top up [amount] to unlock the next level and release your balance.
There is a small issue with your account. To prevent losing your earned balance of [amount], please deposit [amount] within 2 hours. Our team is standing by to help.
What the scammer wants
To get victims to deposit increasingly large sums into a fake task platform, using accumulated fake earnings as leverage to prevent them from walking away.
Red flags in the message
- Job offer through unsolicited WhatsApp, Telegram, or social media DM
- Required deposit to 'activate' an account or receive earnings
- Earnings displayed on screen but can never actually be withdrawn
- Each withdrawal attempt triggers a new fee or deposit demand
- Supervisor contacts you through a messaging app, not official email
A safe response
Stop immediately and do not deposit any more money. Legitimate employers never require workers to fund their own account to receive wages. Walk away from the platform.
What not to send
- Deposits to unlock commissions
- Bank account or crypto wallet details
- Identity documents or selfies to a chat-based recruiter
What to do if you already replied
- Stop all deposits immediately — no further payment will release your balance
- Report the platform and recruiter contact to the FTC, Action Fraud, and the messaging platform
- Contact your bank about any bank transfers made
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the full message or call details
- Note the sender number, email, or profile
- Save any links (without clicking) and payment details
- Record dates and times
Frequently asked questions
The app shows I've earned a large balance — why can't I just withdraw it?
That balance is fabricated by the platform to keep you depositing more money, and legitimate work never requires you to pay to access earnings you've supposedly already made. If withdrawal is blocked or requires a further deposit, the platform is not real.
The first few payments they sent me were real — doesn't that mean it's legitimate?
Small real payouts early on are a deliberate tactic to build trust before asking for larger deposits, and the scam typically becomes clear only once you're asked to pay in your own money to 'unlock' bigger earnings. Treat any request to deposit funds as the point to stop.
I already deposited money into the task platform — can I get it back?
Contact your bank or payment provider to ask about disputing the transfer, though recovery depends heavily on the payment method used and how much time has passed. Stop depositing further funds immediately, even if the platform claims one more deposit will unlock your balance.
How do I recognize this kind of scam before I lose money?
Be wary of remote 'jobs' found through unsolicited social media messages that involve rating products or completing simple tasks for pay, especially if at any point you're asked to deposit your own money. Legitimate employers pay you; they never require payment from you.