Easy money from your phone: the fake job scam
A typical message
Hello! We are hiring part-time. Earn €150 to €500 a day from your phone, just like videos and write reviews. No experience needed. Contact our HR on Telegram.
How it works
An unexpected message, often on WhatsApp, offers well-paid part-time work: liking videos, rating hotels or "boosting" products. You're moved to a Telegram group with other "workers" who share their earnings.
At first it works: you do small tasks and are paid a few euros, to win your trust. Then come "premium" tasks that need you to pay in first, in crypto or by transfer, to unlock bigger commissions.
Your balance on the site grows, but to withdraw it you must pay again: a "tax", a "fee", a "top-up". The balance isn't real, and every payment is lost.
How to spot it
- A job offer you didn't apply for.
- Pay per day that's far too high for simple online tasks.
- A move to Telegram or WhatsApp to "talk to HR".
- Being asked to pay, top up or deposit anything to work or to withdraw your earnings. A real job never asks you to pay.
What to do
- Don't reply. Block and report the number.
- Never pay to get a job or to withdraw earnings.
- Already paid? Stop paying, as more payments won't release the money. Keep the chats and report it to the police on 1460. Be careful of "recovery" services that offer to get the money back: they're scammers too.
More scams going around in Cyprus
- "Your parcel is held": the parcel fee scam
- "Your card is blocked": the fake bank message
- "I've paid, click to receive your money": the fake buyer scam
- "Hi Mum, this is my new number"
- "I sent you a code by mistake, can you send it back?"
- Fake fines, tax refunds and government payments
- The landlord who's abroad: the fake rental scam