Fake jobs and paid tasks
A story
Samira, 24, a student in Québec City, gets a WhatsApp message: “Hello, we're hiring product reviewers. $50 to $300 a day, from home, no experience required.” She's broke and rent is coming up. She replies.
On day one she clicks through products, “boosts” reviews and earns $8. The next day, $15. She's able to withdraw: the money arrives as USDT in the wallet they had her set up. A Telegram group displays “colleagues'” earnings, with screenshots and emojis. She finally feels she's on the right track.
Then comes a “combined order”: the system shows a negative balance and asks her to deposit $300 to unlock the next step. She deposits, because the promised commission is $900. Then another, bigger order. By the time she realizes the group's “colleagues” are fake, she has lost $2,300 of her savings and $1,500 borrowed from a friend.
A fictional story inspired by real cases. Names and details are invented.
How it works
Offer
A “recruiter” contacts you by WhatsApp, Telegram or text about a well-paid job you can do from home, with no real interview.
Tasks
The tasks involve rating products or “boosting” apps. Small amounts are credited at first.
Required deposits
The account then shows a negative balance or an “order” that requires a deposit, often in crypto, to continue or get paid.
No withdrawal
When you try to withdraw your earnings, you're asked for fees. The account then becomes inaccessible.
Variant: money mule
You're asked to receive money in your account and send it on, often as crypto. These funds can come from other victims, and the person who moves them can be held responsible.
The warning signs
- A job offer received by text, WhatsApp or Telegram
- High pay for little work
- A deposit required to continue or get paid
- A crypto account required as a condition of the job
- A request to receive money and send it on
- A group of “colleagues” posting their earnings
If it happens to you
- Stop and deposit nothing else.
- If money was deposited into your account, don't send it on: call your bank and the police.
- Keep the conversations, usernames and wallet addresses.
- Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and the police.
Official contacts → · Your platform's help page →
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