Unmasking the part-time job scam—how does it work

There are many people in need of a job—more precisely, of income. And then, finally, a hiring manager sends them... a WhatsApp message? There’s something off about the offer. It seems too easy, too good to be true.

The promise of easy money can be incredibly tempting, especially when it comes at the time we need it the most. However, if the opportunity looks too perfect, it probably is. Part-time job scams are a threat that’s becoming commonplace, targeting people who are vulnerable enough to not notice the red flags.

That’s why we decided to go undercover and follow through with one of these scams to see how they operate first-hand.

How the part-time job scam works

Scammers send messages via platforms like Telegram or WhatsApp with promises of lucrative part-time job opportunities. These messages lure potential targets with easy tasks that promise steady income or a large payout.

At first, the scam seems harmless. The attackers begin asking for simple tasks, such as:

• Adding products to shopping carts on sites like eBay and Amazon.
• Following and interacting with accounts on Instagram or TikTok.
• Watching and liking YouTube videos.
• Writing reviews for hotels, restaurants, or entertainment on platforms like Google or Yelp.
• Participating in online surveys or playing internet-based games.

Into the scammer’s trap

We recently followed through with one of these scams. There would be a list of tasks, each with its own level of urgency and potential rewards, advertising pay ranging from $5 to $10 per task completed. Our task consisted of adding products to our eBay shopping cart and sending screenshots to the scammers.

After completing a few tasks, the scammers deposited a small amount of USDT cryptocurrency into our wallet, as we could verify in our own account.

The scammers may deposit real cryptocurrency into the target’s wallet once the target completes some of the easy starting tasks. They do this to make the scheme appear genuine––going so far as to deposit more than once to establish trust.

This is all in build up to the main part of the scam, where the scam actors provide a ‘VIP’ or main task, urging the victim to pay an advance fee with a guaranteed return, usually in the 30-50% range.

Escalating to an advance fee fraud

We were added to a larger group chat that featured the VIP tasks, with numerous other users requesting the listed tasks and submitting proof of receiving commission transactions from the scammers. It’s reasonable to assume that most of the accounts in the group are fake accounts or even bot accounts.

There is a large variety in the amount that the victim may deposit. Once the target selects a high-value option and deposits the money, the scammers will have achieved their goal and the target’s money is already lost. At this point, the scammers either disappear or provide fabricated reasons for not returning the money, demanding more payments under the threat of losing the initial investment.

How to protect yourself from a part-time job scam

The part-time job scam may seem like a house of mirrors, where nothing is as it seems. Yet, there are things you can do to discern whether it’s a scam or not.

• Recognize the red flags. Unsolicited messages promising easy money should immediately raise suspicions. Legitimate job offers typically come through official channels, include an interview process, and don’t promise large sums for trivial tasks.
• Verify if the company is real. Research the company or offer. Legitimate businesses have a digital footprint beyond a single platform or message chain.
• Be wary of payments in cryptocurrency. Be cautious of job offers involving cryptocurrency transactions. Scammers exploit their anonymity and irreversibility.
• Never ever pay to earn. Genuine job offers do not require upfront payments. If a job requires you to pay before you start earning, it's almost certainly a scam.
• Use cybersecurity tools. Tools like Norton Genie can help identify and avoid potential scams in real time.
• Report the scam. Report suspected scams to local authorities, such as the FTC and the FBI.

Don’t accept a suspicious offer

The impact of the part-time job scam can be profound. We’ve seen many sharing their stories in forums such as Reddit, giving us a clear picture of the distress these scams cause.

We can’t completely avoid receiving suspicious messages, but we can stay informed and learn how to recognize the red flags. When hunting for a job, it’s better to be the hunter than the prey.