Scams Texts

Texts scam · added Oct 22, 2026

No real job makes you pay to get paid.

A text offers easy online work, pays you a little, then asks you to deposit money to unlock more tasks.

RecruiterText message

Recreation

Spot the tell. Tap the part that gives this scam away.

The tell

Balance frozen. Deposit $500 in USDT to unlock the next tasks.

You have to deposit money before you can be paid.

Example from our recreation.

How it works

  1. It starts with a text offering easy work: like videos, rate products, watch your earnings grow.
  2. They even pay you a little at first.
  3. Then you have to deposit your own money, usually crypto, to unlock the next tasks. That money is gone.

What to do

  1. If a job asks you to pay in, stop.
  2. Don't reply to job offers that arrive out of nowhere by text.

Already fell for it?

Already deposited money? Contact the bank or crypto service you used right away, then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

What to do if you were scammed

The numbers

~5,000 to ~20,000
task scam reports: all of 2023 vs. just the first half of 2024 (FTC estimates) Source: FTC, Dec 2024

Watch it

This scam is on The Tell as a short video. YouTube, TikTok or Instagram.

Sources

Checked Oct 22, 2026.

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