Security alerts · WhatsApp & Telegram

Fake online jobs on WhatsApp and Telegram

You are added to a group and promised payment for liking videos or writing reviews, then asked to "invest" to earn more. It's a scam.

This scam starts with a WhatsApp message from a foreign or local number: "Hello, we are looking for people to do part-time work from home. You can earn TZS 50,000 to 300,000 a day."

At first you are paid a small amount for easy tasks (liking YouTube or TikTok videos) so you trust them. Later you are told to join "VIP tasks" or "paid tasks" that require you to deposit money first. Once you deposit, the money never comes out and you are asked to add more to "unlock" your account.

Warning signs

• You received a job offer you never applied for, from an unknown number
• The pay is far too high for very little work
• You are asked to pay a fee, "capital" or a "deposit" to get the job or withdraw your earnings
• A "mentor" or "receptionist" pressures you on Telegram

How to protect yourself

• A real company never asks you to pay to get a job
• Never deposit money on any platform to "unlock" your earnings
• Search the company name online together with the word "scam" before joining
• Block and report the number on WhatsApp

If you are affected

• Stop sending money immediately, even if you are promised a refund
• Call the customer care of the network you used to send money and report it
• Keep screenshots of the chats, numbers and all transactions
• Report it to the police (Cybercrime Unit)