OPINION: 'Liking' videos or rating product images can be a costly job

It seems like an easy and fun way to make money, but this particular type of job scam has caused financial loss in numbers that have rocketed since 2023.

Called “gamified task scams,” they involve asking victims to do easy, repetitive tasks such as liking videos or rating product images, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

The lure is that you get rewards for doing a group of tasks — usually 40 to a set — in an app or online platform, which then qualifies you for the next level of work. Sometimes, you’ll get a double task that can earn you even more.

Many people report getting small payouts initially, helping the scammers build trust. This kind of system “creates the illusion you’re racking up commissions with every click,” the FTC says.

The agency’s latest report shows that about 20,000 people reported these scams in the first half of 2024, compared to about 5,000 in all of 2023. Losses topped $220 million. Here’s how the perpetrators rob their victims: At some point, they ask for a deposit to complete the next set of tasks or to get your supposed earnings out of the app.

Of course, you don’t want to lose what the app shows you’ve already made, so you “charge up” your account.

“But no matter what the system says you’ve earned, you didn’t,” according to the FTC. “That money isn’t real. And if you deposit money, you won’t get it back.”

To further reinforce the fraud, those who question the required deposit are directed to a group chat featuring experienced “workers” talking about the riches they have earned.

Some common patterns of this scam are a text or WhatsApp message offering online work without providing details. The offer will include the word “tasks” and buzzwords like “product boosting” or “app optimization,” the FTC says.

“They’re designed to hook you – these scammers know it can be hard to cut your losses, and the apps they use make those fake earnings seem very real,” the FTC says.

For whom the toll bills

If you have traveled lately or plan to this year, be aware of a fake text notifying you about supposed unpaid tolls.

An Albuquerque woman who was in Houston recently got one this month saying she needed to pay “FastTrak Lane tolls” within a few days to “avoid a fine and keep your license.” The message provided a link to pay up.

These scammers show a bit of sophistication by tailoring their texts “to impersonate the state’s toll service name, and phone numbers (that) appear to change between states,” the FBI noted in an alert. The agency reported last spring that more than 2,000 complaints had been filed about fake toll texts.

And the amounts supposedly owed are not huge — some recipients have reported an amount of $11.69, required to avoid a late fee of $50. That makes it more likely victims will fall for the trick.

If they do, they will also expose their credit card number, while clicking on the link could lead to malware and identity theft.

If you are concerned about owing money, contact the agency that supposedly sent the text and check directly.

Also, never click on links in emails or texts, especially if they arrive unexpectedly or without you making the initial contact.

Contact Ellen Marks at emarks@abqjournal.com if you are aware of what sounds like a scam. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division at 505-490-4060. Complaints can be filed electronically at nmag.gov/contact-us/file-a-complaint/