WhatsApp and Telegram "Task" Job Scams: How They Work and How to Avoid Them

A message arrives from an unknown number: a "recruiter" offers part-time work from home. All you have to do is like videos, follow accounts, rate hotels or review products, and you can earn thousands of shillings a day. It sounds easy, and at first it even pays. This is one of the most common job scams targeting Kenyans, and it can cost victims their savings.

How the task scam works

1. The hook. You get an unsolicited WhatsApp message, SMS or social media message offering flexible online work. The sender may claim to work for a well-known company or an "agency".
2. Easy first tasks. You are asked to like a few videos or follow some accounts and send screenshots. You receive a small payment, often by M-Pesa, which makes the job seem real.
3. The Telegram group. You are added to a group or a "mentor" chat where other "members" (often fake accounts) post screenshots of big earnings.
4. Prepaid or "merchant" tasks. You are told that higher-paying tasks require you to deposit money first, which will be returned with commission. Early deposits may be "returned" to build trust.
5. The trap. The required deposits grow. You are told your account is "negative", or that you made an "error", and you must pay more to withdraw your balance. Eventually the scammers stop responding, and the money is gone.

Warning signs

• An unsolicited job offer from an unknown number, with no application or interview.
• Pay that is far too high for simple tasks.
• Communication only through WhatsApp or Telegram, never official email or an office.
• Any request to deposit, top up, buy a package or "upgrade" to earn more.
• Pressure to complete a set of tasks quickly before you can withdraw.
• Earnings shown on a website or app you cannot withdraw from without paying more.
• Group members who all seem to be earning large amounts and encouraging you.

The golden rule

A real job pays you. You never pay to work. No genuine employer asks you to deposit money to earn commission, unlock tasks or withdraw your wages.

How to protect yourself

• Do not reply to unsolicited job messages from unknown numbers. Block and report them.
• Never send money, M-Pesa PINs, one-time codes or ID copies to people offering online "tasks".
• Look for remote work on reputable sites that verify employers. On JobsToGrab, every remote job comes from an employer's official job system or an established remote job service.
• Talk to someone you trust before paying for anything connected to a job offer.

If you have been caught

• Stop paying immediately, even if you are told you will lose your balance. You will not get it back by paying more.
• Call Safaricom straight away if you paid by M-Pesa, to ask about reversing the latest transaction, and keep all confirmation messages.
• Report the scam to the police or the DCI with screenshots of chats, numbers, group names and payments.
• Report the numbers and groups on WhatsApp and Telegram.
• Beware of "recovery" offers. People who promise to recover your money for a fee are usually the same scammers, or new ones.
• Tell us through our report form so we can warn others.

Looking for genuine work from home? Read how to find genuine remote jobs from Kenya, and see our 12 signs of a fake job advert.