Part-time job scam: you can’t earn by liking videos and paying deposits
Messages offering ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 a day for liking YouTube videos, rating hotels or writing Google reviews are task scams. They pay you a few hundred rupees at first, then move you to a Telegram group where “prepaid” or “merchant” tasks need deposits.
Your balance grows on screen, but to withdraw you must pay more “tax” or “fees”, and the money never comes back. Real jobs don’t pay for likes and never ask you to deposit money. Stop, leave the group and report at 1930 if you have paid.
Last updated: Reviewed by IndiaDigital editorsSources
How does this scam work?
- A WhatsApp message, often from a +62, +84 or +92 number, offers easy part-time work.
- You get ₹150 to ₹500 for a few likes or reviews to build trust.
- A Telegram “receptionist” or “mentor” offers bigger “prepaid tasks”: deposit ₹1,000 and get ₹1,300 back.
- Deposits grow (₹10,000, ₹50,000), the dashboard shows profit, and withdrawal is blocked until you pay a “tax” or “credit score fee”.
Real-style examples
Numbers and links are changed. The red flags are marked by the same engine that runs in the Scam Checker.
Hello! I am Priya from HR team. We offer part time job, just like YouTube videos and earn Rs 3000-5000 daily. Interested? Reply YES on WhatsApp +62 812 3456 7890
- Paid to like videos or write reviews
- Foreign number (+62)
- Easy part-time income offer
Congrats, you completed 3 tasks and earned ₹450. To unlock the VIP task and withdraw, recharge ₹5,000 in your account. Join our Telegram mentor group.
- “Prepaid task” or recharge to unlock earnings
Congratulations! You are selected for Data Entry job at Amazon without interview. Salary 35,000/month. Pay registration fee Rs 1,999 to receive your offer letter.
- Job that asks you to pay
- Asks for a fee first
- “Selected without interview”
Red flags: how to spot it
- Money for likes, ratings or reviews
- A fixed daily income for very little work
- Telegram groups, “mentors” and “receptionists”
- Any deposit, recharge or fee to unlock tasks or withdraw
- Selected for a job without an interview
How to check if it is real
- Ask: why would anyone pay me to like videos? There is no real business behind it.
- Look up the company’s official careers page. Real offers come after an interview.
- If a “job” asks you to pay anything, stop there.
What to do if you get one
- Leave the WhatsApp and Telegram groups and block the numbers.
- If you paid, call 1930 and report on cybercrime.gov.in with every UTR.
- Report the WhatsApp number on Chakshu.
Remember: No real job pays you to like videos and then asks you to deposit money. The first small payouts are bait.
Lost money? What to do in the first hour
- Call 1930 now. The National Cyber Crime Helpline. The first hour matters most: a quick report lets banks try to hold the money before it moves on.
- File the complaint on cybercrime.gov.in. Add the transaction ID or UTR, amount, time, the UPI ID or account the money went to, and screenshots. Note your complaint number.
- Tell your bank and freeze cards and UPI. Call the number on your card or in the bank app. Reporting within 3 working days can limit your liability under RBI rules.
- Keep the evidence, beware “recovery agents”. Don’t delete chats. Anyone who charges a fee to get your money back is running a second scam.
Frequently asked questions
Is the YouTube like job real?
No. Paying people to like videos and then asking for deposits is a well-known task scam. Early small payouts are bait.
They showed my profit. Can I withdraw if I pay the tax?
No. The balance is fake. Every new payment is followed by another fee. Stop paying and report it.
Can a company charge a registration fee for a job?
Genuine employers do not charge candidates to apply or join. A fee for registration, training, uniform or a laptop is a red flag.
Related scams
Sources
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (1930) · Sanchar Saathi: Chakshu, report suspected fraud communication · RBI: limiting customer liability in unauthorised electronic banking transactions