Got a text offering $200/hour for "Data Optimization"

[Arence40]

I’ve been applying for entry-level marketing roles for three months with zero luck. Yesterday, I got a random WhatsApp message from a "recruiter" at a big tech firm (supposedly). They offered me a part-time role "optimizing app data" where I just have to click a button to rate products. They say I can make $100-300 a day for 30 minutes of work. They want me to start training on their platform immediately. Has anyone done this? My student loans are due, and I really want this to be real.

 

[Tethyca]

I almost fell for one of these last year when I was between contracts. The catch usually comes when they ask you to deposit your own money (usually crypto) to "unlock" a set of tasks or cover a "negative balance" on your account. A real employer pays you; you never pay them to work.

 

[Oust1999]

This sounds exactly like the task scam model that is flooding the market right now. They usually let you withdraw a tiny amount of money, maybe $50, during the "training" phase to gain your trust. Once you feel safe, they hit you with a "super task" that requires you to deposit thousands of your own dollars to finish the set and withdraw your earnings. My neighbor lost his entire savings account thinking he was helping optimize hotel bookings. It is a very organized criminal script. I was reading a detailed breakdown of these specific job scams recently, and the optimization buzzword is the biggest red flag. Block the number and do not give them any banking info.