Task / part-time job scam
Also known as: prepaid task scam, hotel rating job, product review job, telegram task
Behavioural sequence
How the script progresses
Unsolicited job offer
- Message from an unknown number offering easy daily earnings
- Claims to represent a known brand
Small real payout
- You completed simple tasks
- You actually received ₹100–₹500
Prepaid 'merchant' task
- Asked to deposit to unlock higher-paying tasks
- Moved to a separate app or web dashboard
Dashboard shows large balance
- Your wallet shows earnings far above what you deposited
Withdrawal refused
- Withdrawal fails
- Told your account is 'frozen' or the task set is incomplete
Unlocking fee demanded
- Asked for tax, GST, credit-score or unlocking payment to release your money
Likely next move
Unsolicited job offer
They will send a few genuinely paid micro-tasks to build trust before asking for any money.
Small real payout
They will invite you to a 'prepaid task' and ask you to deposit your own money to unlock a higher tier.
Prepaid 'merchant' task
Your dashboard will show a large fake balance to make the next, bigger deposit feel safe.
Dashboard shows large balance
Your withdrawal will fail, and the failure will be blamed on an incomplete task set.
Withdrawal refused
They will demand a tax, GST or unlocking fee — framed as the last step before payout.
Unlocking fee demanded
There is no last step. Each payment produces a new fee. Nothing will be released.
Do not do this
- Do not make another payment to release your balance. No legitimate employer charges you to be paid.
- Do not let them move you onto a new app or dashboard.
- Do not delete the chat — it is your evidence.
Sources
I4C / cybercrime.gov.in — Daily Digest advisories · Retrieved 2026-08-22
ScamShield (Singapore) — job scams · Retrieved 2026-08-22
Scamwatch (Australia) — jobs and employment scams · Retrieved 2026-08-22