Text message job scams are gamified and on the rise, FTC warns

Have you received a message or WhatsApp notification on your iPhone recently about a curious job opportunity? Today’s Federal Trade Commission warning about text-based gamified job scams, or “task scams,” makes it clear that you’re not alone.

Mission scams may offer real rewards, but only to build trust and steal large amounts of money

FTC (Federal Trade Commission) Today Posted a new article Designed to protect consumers.

theme? One particular type of job scam is called an assignment scam.

Task scams typically start with a text message or WhatsApp message offering you a job and promising huge rewards for minimal gamified “work.”

Federal Trade Commission explains:

Task scams ask you to perform simple, repetitive tasks, such as liking a video or rating a product image. Your “job” is to complete these tasks within an app or online platform, which creates the illusion that you’re earning a commission for every click. Missions are usually assigned in groups of forty, with the promise of leveling up upon completion of a set of tasks. You might even get what’s called double duty, earning a bigger commission. Many people say getting a small payout right out of the gate gives them greater trust in the system.

So, how do these scammers steal your money while making you think you’re making money? At some point they will say you have to make a deposit to complete the next set of tasks and earn what you call earnings from the app. You “top up” your account to avoid losing the money the app shows you have earned, trusting that once you complete the group, you will get back all the money you deposited, plus commissions. But no matter how much the system says you make, you don’t. That money is not real. And if you save money, you can’t get it back.

Mission scams reported to the Federal Trade Commission have increased dramatically in recent years:

• Bringing 1,000 reports in 2022
• 5,000 in 2023
• There are 20,000 reports from 2024 to June alone

The actual number of people affected is likely to be much higher, as many cases may go unreported. But the growth reflected in these numbers shows a worrying trend.

9to5Mac’s Opinion

I personally have received a lot of these mission scam texts on my iPhone, especially in the past year or so. Like many of the most successful scams, they can be disarming and compelling.

Spam text messages are a ongoing problems This is true for both iPhone and Android, but this story highlights the importance of stronger message filtering tools – not only to prevent annoying messages, but also to prevent unsuspecting users from being scammed.

Have you ever received a scam message? Let us know in the comments.

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