Job Scams: Fake Recruiters and 'Task' Jobs That Cost You

A friendly text offers flexible, remote work with good pay, and no interview needed. Job scams are built to appeal to anyone who could use extra income, including retirees looking for part-time work. The FTC says scammers advertise jobs the same way honest employers do, but what they really want is your money and your personal information.

Job scams often start with a text. For other scam texts, see our guide to scam text messages.

How do job scams start?

Many start with an unexpected message. The FTC warned in April 2026 about a text scam with fake recruiters who claim to work for companies you might know. They offer at-home jobs such as “online assessor” or a vague “remote position,” and mention daily or weekly pay without details about the actual work.

In a newer twist, the FTC says these texts don’t include a link. Instead, they ask you to reply “YES” or “INTERESTED.” Don’t. Replying tells the scammer your number is active and starts the conversation they need.

EXAMPLE — SCAM

Today 10:02 AM●●● ▮

# (469) 555-0138 Text message

Hi, this is Jessica from the HR team. Your resume was recommended for a remote Online Assessor position. Flexible hours, $300–$800 per day, paid daily. No experience needed. Reply YES to learn more.

Social media is another starting point. The FTC found that one in three people who reported losing money to a job or business opportunity scam in 2025 said it started on social media.

What is a “task” job scam?

Task scams, also called gamified job scams, pay you in fake “commissions” for simple clicks. The FTC describes how they work:

1. The offer. An unexpected message says you can make quick money online doing simple “tasks,” such as “optimization” or “product boosting.”
2. The app. You complete tasks in an app or online platform and see “commissions” pile up with each click.
3. The hook. To build trust, the scammer may pay you a little, usually $5 to $20.
4. The trap. To unlock the next set of tasks, or to withdraw your “earnings,” you’re told to deposit your own money, usually in cryptocurrency.

The earnings were never real. Even after you deposit, you can’t get the money out, and what you sent is gone. Task scams work much like fake trading scams: fake numbers on a screen, real money out of your pocket.

What other job scams should you know?

The FTC lists several common versions:

• Fake check jobs. Your new “employer” sends a check, then asks you to send some of it back or buy supplies. The check bounces, and you owe the bank. See fake check scams.
• Pay-to-start jobs. You pay for starter kits, training or certifications that turn out to be useless.
• Reshipping jobs. You receive packages at home and reship them, often to overseas addresses. The FTC says the goods are often bought with stolen credit cards, the paycheck never comes, and the personal information you gave for “payroll” can lead to identity theft.
• Reselling jobs. You pay for brand-name goods to resell, but they never arrive or turn out to be junk.

In October 2026 the FBI also warned about fake freelance jobs that ask people to receive and host laptops at home or to interview for someone else, and said the people behind them target Americans under financial stress. The FBI says to reject any offer that pays you for your personal or financial information or your account logins.

How can you check a job offer?

Use the FTC’s rules of thumb:

• Ignore unexpected job texts and messages. The FTC says real employers will never contact you that way.
• Never pay to get paid, or to get a job. It’s a sure sign of a scam.
• Don’t trust anyone who’ll pay you to rate or “like” things online. No honest company does that.
• Be suspicious of easy money. The FTC says an offer of a lot of money in a short time with little work is almost certainly a scam.
• Go to the source. Look up the company yourself and apply through its official website.

What should you do if you paid?

Contact the company you used to pay, whether that’s your bank, card company, payment app or crypto exchange, and ask it to stop or reverse the payment. If you shared your Social Security number or bank details for “payroll,” follow our steps for identity theft.

Then report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Our first-hour checklist after a scam covers each payment method, and our guide to reporting a scam text shows how to report the message itself.