Job hunters tricked into handing over thousands of
dollars are being lured in with a new tactic: Task-based scams where they are offered high
pay to “like” and “subscribe” to videos online.
Over the last three years, nearly 50,000 people reported to BBB Scam Tracker after falling
victim to an employment scam. Reports exploded in 2025, doubling over the previous year.
BBB received hundreds of reports involving task-based scams where fraudsters
impersonated popular companies.
In the new study “Employment scams soar, ‘video boosters’ left unpaid, and
education needs are paramount,” BBB’s International Investigations Initiative examines
patterns of reports, reviews the amount of money lost and shares stories from those caught
up in the scams so consumers can avoid them.
Since 2021, the III has laid out ways consumers and businesses can avoid scams and
significant monetary loss. Previous studies examined business scams, online gambling,
vehicle purchases, identity theft and much more.
Key findings:
Over 600 reports to BBB about employment scams were “task-based”
Job scams conducted over text message exploded in 2025, making up half of all
reports
Employment scams are rising, despite extensive public information about this type of
fraud
Median losses shrunk since 2023 but remain high at $1,000
Employment scam reports across North America
BBB Scam Tracker SM employment scams by year
Year Reports Median loss
2023 10,348 $2,000
2024 11,748 $1,500
2025 23,234 $1,000
What are the red flags of an employment scam?
Unprompted job offers
Jobs offered without an interview
Too-good-to-be-true salaries
High-pressure offers to take a job immediately
Interviewers refuse to turn on camera
Payment to like or subscribe to videos online
Charges or taxes to withdraw money already earned
Upfront costs to begin work
How can I avoid employment scams?
Do research on companies offering jobs. If someone reaches out to you out of
the blue, attempt to find a posting for the job on the company’s official website.
Never pay money to get your paycheck. No legitimate job will ask you to pay
taxes or any other fee to “unlock” funds you have already earned.
Avoid jobs paying you to watch videos, like them or subscribe to a channel.
In nearly every case, this will be a scam.
Always use video in an interview if possible. If an employer offers you a job
without an interview, be wary.
Visit BBB.org to check out a business or register a complaint, BBB Scam Tracker SM to report
a scam and BBB.org/scamstudies for more on this and other scams.