Scam library · United Kingdom · Updated 20 October 2026
Job and task scams: what they say, how to spot it, what to do
A job offer can start with a small task and turn into a demand for your own money. Check the employer and the work before paying or sharing documents.
What they say
Illustrative examples, written in our own words:
- We found your details and can pay you for rating products from your phone.
- Complete a few tasks and your account will show your commission.
- Top up the account to unlock the next task and withdraw your earnings.
- A negative balance or tax charge must be cleared before we can release your wages.
How to spot it
- The work requires you to deposit money or crypto to obtain pay you supposedly earned.
- The recruiter will only use a message app and cannot be checked through the actual employer.
- A dashboard balance or an initial small payout is offered as proof that later deposits are safe.
What to do now
- Stop depositing money. Do not borrow to clear a supposed task balance or withdrawal charge.
- Find the employer independently and check the vacancy through its real recruitment contact.
- Do not pass money through your own bank account for a recruiter. Save the advert, chats and payment instructions.
If you already paid or shared details
Call your bank immediately on the number on your card, using a trusted device. After hanging up, 159 can connect you to participating UK banks; coverage and call charges depend on your provider. Explain what you sent or shared and ask about stopping payments and securing the account.
If you sent identity documents or account details, say so in your report. Tell the bank if you received and forwarded other people’s money, and stop further transfers while the bank assesses what happened.
Under Payment Systems Regulator rules, UK banks and payment firms must refund most eligible authorised push payment (APP) scam losses from UK Faster Payments transfers made on or after 7 October 2024, up to £85,000 per claim. This means you were tricked into authorising a transfer. Eligibility and exceptions apply. Cards, cash, international transfers and crypto payments are not automatically covered by this rule. Report promptly and ask the bank to explain its assessment, any excess and the relevant deadlines.
Keep messages and payment references. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, report to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud). In Scotland, report to Police Scotland on 101. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Forward suspicious SMS texts to 7726 and emails to report@phishing.gov.uk, following GOV.UK reporting guidance. For message apps, use the app’s report and block tools. Reporting a message does not replace contacting your bank about a payment.
Questions people ask
Does a small first payout prove the job is real?
No. Check the employer and work independently. A later demand for your own deposits still needs to be treated as a warning.
Should I pay to unlock the wages shown in an app?
Stop and check independently. A displayed balance is not proof that wages exist or will be released after another payment.