'Get Paid to Review Products' Task Scam
A 'job' pays you to review or 'boost' products by completing tasks — but soon you must deposit your own money to unlock earnings you can never withdraw.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
You are recruited to a work-from-home gig 'reviewing' or 'optimizing' products through an app or website, earning small commissions at first. Then the tasks require you to pre-pay or deposit funds to unlock higher-value tasks or to withdraw your balance. Early tiny payouts build trust; once you deposit real money, it is gone and withdrawals are blocked. It is a task-based version of an investment scam.
What it usually looks like
- An unsolicited offer to earn money reviewing or 'boosting' products.
- A special app or site with a task dashboard and a growing balance.
- Small early payouts, then required deposits to continue.
- Blocked withdrawals until you 'complete more tasks.'
Common warning signs
- Being asked to deposit your own money to earn or withdraw.
- A balance that grows but cannot be cashed out.
- Recruitment by DM or text for easy commissions.
- Payment in crypto or gift cards.
Example wording scammers use
“Earn $200/day reviewing products on our app! Complete tasks to boost your commission.”
“Your balance is $640 but you must deposit $300 to unlock withdrawals.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- Escalating deposits from you.
- Crypto or gift-card payments.
- To keep you 'topping up' to chase a fake balance.
What to do
- Never pay to get paid; a real job does not require deposits.
- Ignore 'reviewing/boosting' task offers with dashboards and deposits.
- Do not send crypto or gift cards to unlock earnings.
- Block and report.
What to do if you already responded
- Stop depositing immediately; you will not recover the fake balance.
- Contact your bank/crypto platform to try to stop recent transfers.
- Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.