Scammers target people looking for extra income. Most scams follow a few patterns that are easy to spot once you know them.
Common scams
- Fake checks: you're sent a check, asked to deposit it and send part of the money back; the check bounces later
- Reshipping: receiving packages at home and forwarding them, often stolen goods
- Pay-to-start: fees for training, starter kits or "guaranteed" work
- Task scams: online "jobs" rating products that later ask you to deposit money to unlock earnings
- Pyramid schemes that pay mainly for recruiting
Red flags
- A job offer you didn't apply for, by text or messaging app
- Pay that seems too good for simple work
- Requests to pay with gift cards, crypto or wire transfers
- Pressure to decide quickly
Report it
Report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
General educational information, not tax or legal advice. Earnings vary. Penny Boosters isn't paid by any gig app or platform.