Asked to pay before you get paid? Check that job offer
A small first payment can make a fake job feel real. Learn how task scams work, the warning signs to watch for and what to do before sending money or ID.
Editorial edition 2026-10-20 · Published · Sources checked 20 Oct 2026
A flexible job can sound ideal when you’re balancing classes, rent and graduate applications. But an offer promising easy money deserves a closer look, especially if it arrives unexpectedly on your phone.
Who this is for: Australia — job offers, students and graduates
Check that job offer
Scammers can impersonate well-known employers, online shopping platforms and recruitment agencies. Fake ads can also appear on legitimate job websites, so a familiar name or polished listing is only the starting point. The checks below draw on Scamwatch’s jobs and employment scams guide.
How a small payment becomes a bigger loss
Task-based job scams often promise flexible hours, good pay and no experience required. A supposed supervisor or mentor may move the conversation to WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal, then help you create an account on a website or set up a cryptocurrency wallet.
The tasks can seem straightforward: rate products, review services or complete repetitive online activities. You might receive a small payment at first. That helps build trust.
Next comes a request to “recharge” or “top up” your account before receiving your earnings. You might be offered higher-paying tasks that require a larger deposit. The website may show your balance growing, while a group chat fills with apparent workers celebrating their income.
Scamwatch warns that these groups can contain scammers and bots. The displayed earnings and reassuring messages are part of the deception. The platform’s promises that another payment will unlock your money cannot be trusted.
Other job offers that deserve caution
Some fake “assistant”, “administrator” or “finance” roles ask you to receive money in your personal account and send it elsewhere, sometimes keeping a commission. This can involve laundering stolen money. Don’t let someone use your account to move funds.
Another warning sign is an opportunity where you pay to join and earn mainly by recruiting more people. Pyramid schemes can disguise themselves with products, but recruitment remains the main source of money. Promoting or participating in a pyramid scheme is illegal.
Pause if you notice these signs
• Unexpected contact offering unusually high pay for very little work.
• An immediate offer without a meaningful interview or discussion of your experience.
• A recruitment fee, payment for training materials or deposit demanded before you can earn.
• Requests to transfer money, make purchases or receive packages for someone else.
• Pressure to decide quickly or keep paying to unlock earnings.
Checks students and graduates can use
1. Contact the organisation independently.
Find its official contact details yourself. Ask whether the recruiter works there and whether the vacancy exists. Don’t rely on the number or link supplied in the message.
2. Protect your documents.
Don’t send a passport, driver’s licence or other ID until you’re certain the employer or recruiter is genuine. Review whether your résumé needs your full home address or date of birth.
3. Get a second opinion.
Show the offer to someone you trust before paying or sharing documents. Search the company’s name alongside “scam”, but don’t treat a lack of search results as verification.
These checks are useful whether you’re applying for your first Australian job, looking for work alongside study or starting your graduate career.
Already sent money or personal details?
Stop sending money and contact your bank or card provider immediately. Explain what happened and ask whether transactions can be stopped. Cut contact with the fake recruiter and change passwords for accounts that may be compromised.
IDCARE can help you make a free plan to limit identity-related harm. Report the scam to Scamwatch and the platform where you found it. Be alert to follow-up approaches offering to recover your money. Scamwatch’s recovery steps and support links
Today’s action: independently verify your next recruiter before sharing ID or sending money.
General information only, not legal or financial advice. Check official guidance for your circumstances.
Adapted from ACCC Scamwatch guidance. © Commonwealth of Australia, CC BY 3.0 AU. Wording and structure changed for a student audience; no ACCC endorsement implied.