FTC Warns of Rising 'Gamified' Job Scams Costing Consumers Millions

Scammers use cryptocurrency and fake payouts to lure victims into losing money through deceptive online task schemes.

Reports of 'task scams' have surged, with 20,000 cases reported in the first half of 2024, up from just 5,000 in all of 2023.
Victims are approached via text or WhatsApp with offers of simple online tasks like liking videos or rating products for money.
Scammers initially pay small amounts to build trust, then demand deposits in cryptocurrency to unlock larger payouts, which never materialize.
Losses from these scams reached $41 million in the first six months of 2024, contributing to a total of $220 million lost to job scams this year.
The FTC advises ignoring unsolicited job offers, never paying to get paid, and avoiding any schemes involving online tasks like rating or liking content.