FTC Warns Job-Task Scams Cost Workers $220 Million in Six Months

Job-seekers are facing a sharp rise in online employment frauds that promise quick pay for simple internet tasks, according to new figures from the Federal Trade Commission. Reported losses exceeded $220 million in the first half of 2024, already outpacing the full-year total for 2023 and more than triple the amount recorded in 2020. So-called “task” or “gamified” scams account for much of the increase. The FTC says about 20,000 people reported such schemes between January and June, compared with 5,000 in all of last year. Victims typically receive unsolicited texts or WhatsApp messages from purported recruiters offering commissions for boosting products online. After showing fake earnings inside an app, the fraudsters demand deposits—often in cryptocurrency—that are never returned. “Scammers are sophisticated and keep changing their tactics,” said Kati Daffan, assistant director of the FTC’s division of marketing practices. Eva Velasquez of the Identity Theft Resource Center added that newcomers to the workforce, re-entrants and immigrants are frequent targets, lured by promises of flexible, work-from-home roles that require little or no interview. The FTC advises ignoring unexpected job offers, refusing to pay upfront fees and verifying any employer that asks to be paid in order to release wages. Despite rising losses, the agency estimates fewer than 5 percent of victims file formal complaints, suggesting the true scale of the problem is even larger.