Fake job offers: pay-to-earn tasks, $55-an-hour emails and apps to install
It is a scam. No real employer asks you to deposit money to get paid, and none sends you an app to install outside the App Store or Google Play.
Unsolicited job offers arrive by text, WhatsApp, email and even through real job sites. Some need you to deposit your own money to "unlock" your earnings. Some send you an app to install that takes over your phone. Two versions reached Ajax residents in October 2026.
How it works
The "job" is simple: like videos, rate products, or complete app tasks for commission. Small payouts arrive at first to build trust. Then tasks start requiring deposits, and your growing "balance" can only be withdrawn after you pay fees. Toronto Police warned about this "work task" version in July 2026: victims were told they had made errors that hurt their account rating, and more money had to be deposited before any funds could be released.
Two versions reported in Durham this month
An Ajax resident received an email claiming they had been found on Indeed, offering remote full-time or part-time work at $55 an hour, and asking for a reply to get instructions. There was no company name, no job description, and no interview. Replying is the first step of the task scam above.
Another Ajax resident received a recruitment message on Indeed itself, impersonating a real Ontario greenhouse business. It came with a PDF linking to an app outside the official app store. The app asked for a VPN connection and accessibility permissions, which is how it reads everything on the phone, including banking apps and passwords.
Does a real employer ever ask you to pay or install software?
No. Real employers pay you, not the other way round, and any software they need runs through the App Store, Google Play, or a company account they set up for you. An employer who sends a download link in a PDF, or who needs a deposit before you can be paid, is a scammer.
What to do
- Ignore job offers that arrive by random text, WhatsApp or email, even if they mention Indeed or a real company.
- Never deposit your own money to receive wages or commissions. That is the scam.
- Never install an app from a link in a PDF or message. If an app is not in the App Store or Google Play, do not install it.
- Research any company offering remote work and apply only through its official site or its verified Indeed listing.
- If you tapped the link, entered details or paid: here is exactly what to do next, step by step.
- Report the text by forwarding it to 7726 (SPAM). How to do that on iPhone and Android.
- Got a different message? Run it through our one-minute checker.
Sources
If this has already happened to you, our scam recovery visit can lock down your accounts and devices. And if you are just not sure whether something is a scam, asking us is always free.