The Perfect Scam This Job Scam is Suddenly Everywhere
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Oct 17, 2025 Christine Kiefer, Senior Director at FINRA's Office of Investor Education, dives deep into the world of task scams that are preying on job seekers. She highlights the psychological tactics used by scammers, like gamification and emotional manipulation, that keep victims hooked. Listeners learn valuable red flags to watch for, such as unusual account demands and rapid payment requests. Christine emphasizes the need for vigilance and verification, as she outlines how to protect oneself from falling victim to job-related fraud.
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Gamified Scams Grew Rapidly
- Task scams have exploded and become the top scam for job seekers in recent years.
- Criminals gamified scams to exploit psychology and keep victims engaged.
Fake App-Tester Job Hook
- Dorothy described being recruited for an app-testing job that paid small daily amounts and included weeks of training.
- She initially saw real deposits in the platform that built trust and kept her working.
Earnings You Can’t Access
- The platform showed Dorothy wages accumulating while also enforcing daily minimum balances she had to meet to work.
- That system made her feel she was earning while still being unable to withdraw funds.