{"id":212068,"date":"2025-04-16T20:50:10","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T03:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=212068"},"modified":"2025-04-16T20:50:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T03:50:11","slug":"pay-to-get-paid-the-new-job-scam-thats-raking-in-millions-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/internet-security\/pay-to-get-paid-the-new-job-scam-thats-raking-in-millions-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cPay to Get Paid\u201d \u2013 The New Job Scam That\u2019s Raking in Millions Right Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

How does this job offer sound? When you pay, you get paid. Sounds fishy, right? In fact, it\u2019s one of the fastest-growing job scams out there right now.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking at job scams overall, a data from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shows that job scam reports have nearly tripled between 2020 and 2024. Further, reported losses grew more than five times\u2014spiking to $501 million in 2024.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In all, job scams are more common and more costly than ever.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And leading those losses is a new breed of job scam, where victims indeed \u201cpay to get paid.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPay to get paid,\u201d the hottest job scam going<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The FTC has dubbed these \u201cpay to get paid\u201d scams as \u201cgamified job scams\u201d or \u201ctask scams.\u201d Given the way these scams work, the naming fits. The work feels like a gamey task\u2014and the only winner is the scammer.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It all plays out like this:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You get a job offer by text or private message.<\/span><\/b> The scammer offers you \u201cwork\u201d involving \u201capp optimization\u201d or \u201cproduct boosting,\u201d which they often describe in loose, hazy terms.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You accept the offer.<\/span><\/b> Then the scammer sets you up with an account on an app or platform where you get tasked to \u201clike\u201d or \u201crate\u201d sets of videos or product images online.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You get to work.<\/span><\/b> The app or platform is fake, yet it looks like you\u2019re racking up commissions as you click and complete sets of tasks. At this point the scammer might dole out a small payment or two, making you think the job truly is legit.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The scammer sets the hook.<\/span><\/b> Here\u2019s where the gamey \u201cpay to get paid\u201d part comes in\u2014if you want more \u201cwork,\u201d you must pay for it. At this point, the scammer requires a \u201cdeposit\u201d for your next set of tasks. Like a video game, the scammer sweetens the deal by saying the next set can \u201clevel up\u201d your earnings.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You get scammed.<\/span><\/b> You make the deposit, complete the task set, and try to get your earnings from the app or platform\u2014only to find that the scammer and your money are gone. It was all fake.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Based on what we\u2019ve seen in the past, these scams borrow from other \u201ceasy money\u201d con games found on payment apps. \u201cEasy money\u201d scams build slowly as scammers build a false sense of trust with victims by making small returns on small investments over time. Finally, with the con set, the scammer asks for a huge amount and disappears with it. \u201cPay to get paid\u201d scams can work much the same way.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A few things to keep in mind about this scam as well:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n