Text and WhatsApp job scams: how to spot them

You get a friendly message from a number you don't know. Someone says they are a recruiter. They offer part-time work from your phone, with daily pay and no experience needed. It sounds perfect for a student or a newcomer.

Be careful. A job offer you never applied for is a warning sign of a scam. This guide shows you how they work and what to do when one arrives. For the general warning signs of a fake job, read Job scams that target first-time job seekers.

We checked these facts on October 12, 2026. Follow the links to the official pages for the latest details.

What these messages look like

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) says scammers reach out by text, WhatsApp, email, or Messenger after people post their resume and contact details on job sites. The scammers may use the names of real Canadian companies (CAFC).

Be careful when a message:

• offers you a job you never applied for
• promises high pay for very little work
• wants to talk only by text or a chat app like WhatsApp
• asks you to download an app, join a platform, or create an account to "start working"
• comes from someone who won't do a real interview by phone, video, or in person

How "task" scams work

The CAFC calls this crypto job fraud: fake jobs "boosting" products or doing online tasks. The steps usually look like this (CAFC):

1. You are "hired" after a short chat.
2. You install software or create an account on a website or app.
3. You get "tasks" or "orders", such as "boosting" products, apps, or videos, for example by rating or liking them.
4. You get a small payment at first. This makes the job look real.
5. You are told to deposit money to unlock more tasks, "move up a level", or earn bigger commissions. The deposits often go into crypto accounts or wallets.
6. Your balance grows on the screen, but you can't withdraw it. You are pushed to pay more to "unlock" the next level.
7. You may be asked to recruit friends. The CAFC says this is pyramid selling, which is illegal in Canada.

The CAFC also warns that "boosting" apps, videos, or products usually means writing fake reviews for fraudulent products (CAFC bulletin). Fake "online store" and paid survey jobs, often offered on WhatsApp, Telegram, or social media, work the same way (CAFC).

Why crypto deposits are a red flag

A real job pays you. It never asks you to deposit your own money to earn more, or to pay a fee to get your earnings. The CAFC's advice is clear: never send deposits or pay fees for a job (CAFC).

Cryptocurrency makes it worse. The CAFC says that in most cases, crypto you send can't be reversed. Once it is gone, it is very hard to get back.

What to do when you get one

1. Don't reply. Not even to say "STOP" or "NO". The Competition Bureau says to ignore these texts (Competition Bureau Canada).
2. Don't click any links in the message.
3. Forward spam texts to 7726 (it spells SPAM on most keypads). This alerts your mobile provider so it can investigate and block scam messages. It is free and doesn't count against your plan (Get Cyber Safe).
4. Block and report the number in your messaging app (ISED). WhatsApp lets you block and report someone from the chat (WhatsApp Help Center).
5. Report it to the CAFC, even if you didn't lose money (see below).
6. Delete the message.

How to forward a text to 7726 (Get Cyber Safe):

• Android: Open the conversation without tapping any links. Press and hold the message, choose Forward, type 7726 in the "To" field, and send.
• iPhone: Open the conversation without tapping any links. Press and hold the message, choose More, tap the arrow, type 7726 in the "To" field, and send.

7726 is for text messages in your phone's messaging app. For WhatsApp messages, use the block and report options inside WhatsApp.

Think it might be real?

Sometimes a real company does contact people. Check it yourself before you answer:

• Find the company's official website on your own and call its official phone number (CAFC).
• Look for the job on the company's careers page.
• Follow the steps in How to check if a job posting is real.

If the job is real, you will find it through the company's official channels.

If you already paid or shared information

• Stop paying. Don't pay any "unlock", "tax", or "withdrawal" fee. Paying more won't get your money back.
• Call your bank if you sent money or shared banking details.
• Contact your local police, and report to the CAFC.
• Keep screenshots of the chat, the app or website, and any payment receipts.
• If you shared your SIN or ID, follow the steps in our job scams guide.
• Watch for "recovery" scams. After you lose money, someone may contact you and say they can get it back for a fee. They may pretend to be from the CAFC, the police, or a government agency. If someone asks you to pay to recover money you already lost, it is a scam (CAFC).

Where to report

• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Report online through the Report Cybercrime and Fraud system, or call 1-888-495-8501 (toll-free), Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Eastern time. You can report anonymously (CAFC).
• Spam texts: Forward them to 7726. You can also report spam to Canada's Spam Reporting Centre using its online form (ISED).
• Your local police, if you lost money.

Anyone can be fooled by a well-made scam. Reporting it helps protect other job seekers.

Next steps

• Check before you apply: How to check if a job posting is real
• Got a cheque from an "employer"? Read Fake cheque and money mule job scams
• Learn the warning signs: Job scams that target first-time job seekers
• Browse real entry-level jobs in Metro Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area