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You get a text message with a job offer that pays hundreds of dollars a day for doing remote work. It might sound tempting, but here’s the catch: they ask you to text them your Social Security number. Don’t share it. It’s a scam.

Scammers are sending texts on WhatsApp, pretending to offer remote jobs for positions like online data specialists. They promise they’ll pay up to $600 a day, but the company hiring is a total mystery. The text only says the job’s age requirement and asks for a valid Social Security number. Before you act, know this: not only is the job not legit, but if you send your information, the scammer can use it to steal your identity and create serious problems for you.

Here’s advice to help you deal with unexpected texts that could lead to job scams:

  • Don’t click on links or respond to unexpected texts. If you think the text could be legit, contact the company using a website or phone number you know is real — not the information in the text.
  • Do some research. Scammers usually promise big rewards for little work, but don’t give a lot of information. Search online for the name of the company and words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” If you can’t find the company online, steer clear.
  • Block unwanted texts. Scammers send texts designed to get your attention. Some phone settings and  call-blocking apps let you block unwanted texts so you don’t hear from scammers in the first place.

If you spot a text scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and forward it to 7726 (SPAM) or use your phone’s report “junk” option to delete and report it.

Did you give personal or financial information for a job that turned out to be a scam? Go to IdentityTheft.gov to report it and get a recovery plan.

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Online job scam

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Anita
August 15, 2024

Thank you for these wonderful tips. What would we do without this valuable information? I am so happy to learn and apply and share with others. Thank you for fighting for us.

Joe C
August 15, 2024

Thank you for the information.

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