Make £800 Daily: Beware of Job Scams through Calls and Texts

“Initially, you’ll receive a small payment, which is actually illicit money from others caught up in the scam,” explains Annya Burskys, who leads fraud operations at Nationwide building society. “You are then required to pay a certain amount to unlock higher earnings, which they may claim is necessary for training purposes.

“Part of this money is used to compensate other victims, while the rest is funneled to the criminal organization behind the scheme,” she adds.

Burskys mentions that these initial messages are quite persuasive, especially to young people and students.

“We are witnessing a rise in such cases, particularly among those aged 16 to 25,” she states. “Previously, these were not a daily occurrence. Now, we see multiple cases each day, involving either individuals who have transferred money, or reports from other banks about their customers who have made such payments.”

In some instances, victims may have been coerced into acting as “money mules,” allowing their bank accounts to be used to move scammer’s funds.

Victims might also find that their banking and personal information is exploited for other fraudulent activities.

Burskys notes that typical financial losses range from hundreds to thousands of pounds. “It’s not the amount that’s most alarming—it’s the frequency. These scams can escalate very quickly, taking just days from initial contact to realization of the fraud, unlike typical investment scams, which may unfold over months or years,” she explains.

As the academic year ends and students begin searching for summer jobs, they should be vigilant about these scams.

Understanding the Scam

The fraudulent texts might appear to be from a staffing agency—sometimes impersonating a legitimate business—or directly from TikTok, suggesting that a job is available. Occasionally, these messages reference your CV as if you had applied for a position. The texts typically promise daily earnings in the hundreds, with £800 frequently quoted, and encourage communication via a WhatsApp number.

Similar to the texts, some phone calls, such as a recent one allegedly from the recruitment agency Indeed, use an automated voice to offer a job and ask the recipient to respond via WhatsApp. The contact number is usually a regular UK mobile number.

Demands of the Scam Messages

Initially, the scam message will ask you to express interest in a job. They will then explain that the job entails liking and sharing content, typically TikTok videos. You may be asked to provide your personal details either at sign-up or when it’s time to receive your supposed pay.

After receiving an initial “payment,” you will be prompted to pay for training or something similar, purportedly to unlock higher earnings.

Steps to Take

Be cautious of any unsolicited messages offering employment. Legitimate agencies typically do not recruit candidates in this manner. Indeed, the recruitment agency, clarifies: “Indeed never contacts jobseekers directly by phone to offer employment on behalf of employers on our platform.”

Burskys advises, “If you’re contacted by a recruiter or company with a job offer, use resources like Companies House and LinkedIn to verify them.” Companies House can confirm if a company is operational, who its directors are, and where it is located. Compare this information with what you’ve been provided.

If you recognize the name of the recruitment company, visit its website to check if the job is actually listed there.

In the UK, you can forward suspicious texts to 7726.

Many recruitment agencies offer guidance on how to search for jobs safely, similar to those provided by Indeed.