In a nation grappling with rising unemployment and widespread underemployment, a devious wave of task-based online job scams has ensnared countless Nigerians. Promising easy money for seemingly simple digital tasks, these schemes have lured victims into losing millions of naira, leaving a trail of shattered finances and dashed hopes, writes VICTOR AYENI

A famous quote says, “Shock is the moment pain arrives before the mind has learned how to name it.” It was a feeling Kolawole Ariba (not his real name) knew too well on February 21, 2025.

A month earlier, the father of two had received a WhatsApp message from an unfamiliar international number.

In the message, the sender invited Ariba to a remote job offer in which he would be paid daily for completing simple tasks, ranging from subscribing to YouTube pages to reviewing products for a popular marketing brand.

At first glance, it seemed like just another unsolicited text in an age where strangers routinely appear on phone screens. On second thought, however, the 33-year-old decided to give it a try.

“From WhatsApp, the conversation moved to Telegram, and her name was Alade Juliet. She assured me that she worked with a popular marketing brand where people order goods online and that they also pay people to work remotely.

“She sent me a YouTube page and instructed me to subscribe to it and send her a screenshot as proof. When I did this, I provided my account details and was credited with N3,000. She then told me she would communicate with me on another task the next day,” Ariba told Sunday PUNCH.

In a country where many citizens struggle with limited job opportunities, remote work offers flexibility, global exposure, and, in many cases, better pay. This was the allure the scheme held for Ariba.

“A few days later, she introduced me to a higher-paying scheme where I would earn salaries, but said I had to invest ‘welfare funds,’ which would determine my salary. She sent me screenshots of the beneficiaries they had paid. At first, I had my doubts, but they had paid me for each task before, so I was willing to go along with it.

“She asked me to pay N25,000 within 10 minutes to activate the scheme, after which she would add me to the portal. I sent her the money, and she added me to an online portal where I reviewed products believed to be sold by the brand she claimed to work for. In short, I sent her more money, and on February 21, she blocked me on both WhatsApp and Telegram,” he recounted.

Screenshots of transactions forwarded to Sunday PUNCH showed that Ariba paid a total of N600,000 to an account bearing the name Felix Mbaneto between January 19 and February 10, 2025.

With a tone of regret, he said, “The money I should have spent on my family, I spent on this scam, even when my mind kept telling me I was going to be duped. I failed to listen. It was so embarrassing because I was supposed to know better. Even now, I still can’t tell people what happened because I feel so ashamed.”

Growing task-based scams

What Ariba did not know at the time was that task-based job scams have grown into a sophisticated and widespread fraud trend in Nigeria, often preying on innocent job seekers with promises of easy, flexible, work-from-home income.

These schemes typically require victims to carry out simple, repetitive tasks, such as liking YouTube videos, following Instagram accounts, or “optimising” products for brands such as TikTok, Amazon, or Alibaba, in exchange for daily payments.

Victims are usually paid small sums at the beginning to build trust, before being pressured to invest larger amounts to unlock higher earnings.

Checks by Sunday PUNCH revealed that many Nigerians have lost significant sums to such scams, with some victims reportedly losing up to N1m in personal savings.

On November 18, 2025, an X user, Agu Nwanyi.Tigress (@Thickerbody_08), disclosed that she was defrauded of N3.1m through a fake task platform posing as a partner of a well-known online marketplace.

“Most of the money was borrowed, and the shame has made me isolate myself from family and friends. I’ve reported to the police, submitted my statement, and I’m working tirelessly with the bank to trace the funds.

“I am also trying to raise N400,000 for a private tracker. I’m doing everything I can to fix this. Please, if you can support me with anything, no amount is too small,” she wrote.

Last week, another X user, Tobi the Cleaner Girl (@ThecleanerGirl), alleged that Agu Nwanyi had taken a N2m loan from her, which was reportedly invested in the task-based job scheme.

When Sunday PUNCH contacted Agu Nwanyi via WhatsApp for further details, she initially agreed to speak but later declined and blocked this reporter.

However, addressing the issue on Thursday, Agu Nwanyi wrote, “I’d like to sincerely apologise for the situation regarding the money that was recently brought to public attention by The CleanerGirl.

“I want to confirm that the money has been fully settled and paid. I was able to do this with the help of a kind person who prefers to remain anonymous, and I’m truly grateful for her support in helping me out of a difficult situation.”

She also expressed appreciation to friends and supporters, noting that the matter had been resolved.

Linked to international human trafficking networks

Investigations by Sunday PUNCH further revealed that while many task-based job scams are operated from within Nigeria, their reach is global.

Across social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok, and X, victims in the United States, Brazil, and several Western European countries have shared strikingly similar experiences, describing how they were recruited, pressured into making payments, and eventually defrauded.

Further findings show that the scam networks span multiple continents. Victims have been identified in several Asian countries, including India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and South Korea, as well as in African countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso.

Taken together, these accounts point to a coordinated, borderless operation using the same playbook across different regions.

A report published by INTERPOL on June 30, 2025, revealed that many of these online task scams are linked to human trafficking-fuelled scam centres that have rapidly expanded their global footprint.

According to the report, as of March 2025, victims from 66 countries had been trafficked into online scam centres, with no continent left untouched. INTERPOL’s analysis further showed that 74 per cent of human trafficking victims were taken to centres in Southeast Asia—the original hub of the operation, based on data from relevant notices issued over the past five years.

However, online scam centres have increasingly been observed in other regions, including the Middle East, West Africa, which could be developing into a new regional hub, and Central America.

While approximately 90 per cent of human trafficking facilitators were from Asia, 11 per cent were from South America or Africa. Eighty per cent of facilitators were men, and 61 per cent were aged between 20 and 39 years.

A report by Amnesty International found 53 scamming compounds spread across 16 towns and cities in Cambodia, where trafficked individuals were lured into the country through deceptive job advertisements on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

“After being trafficked, survivors said they were forced to contact people using social media platforms and begin conversations aimed at defrauding them. These included fake romances or investment opportunities, selling products that would never be delivered, or building trust with victims before financially exploiting them, known as ‘pig-butchering,’” the report stated.

Deceived and defrauded

Describing how these scams operate, a graphic designer based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Raphael Silas, said they usually begin with an unexpected message offering ‘work.’

“They will ask you to perform tasks like ‘optimisation’ or ‘boosting products’ online. They can also register you on an app or put you on an online platform and tell you that you will be earning money through a ‘commission’ with each click you make. But these are traps they use to take your money,” he told Sunday PUNCH.

Silas explained that when potential victims complete each task, they see what appears to be increasing earnings on the app.

Sharing screenshots of one such group with Sunday PUNCH, he said, “These earnings are fake, but the scammers want you to believe they are real. Some of them will claim to be from popular marketing brands and say there is another platform that needs to be unlocked.

“They will show you these ‘earnings’ on the app or platform, but then ask you to deposit your own money. There is another tactic. They will pay you after the first task, some people receive N2,000, N3,000 or N4,000, and then ask you to buy items, promising to buy them back with bonuses.

“Others in the group, usually on Telegram, will claim it’s genuine and that they are cashing out. Some will even pretend to ask questions to confirm it is legitimate. Don’t fall for it. In my case, they asked me to buy a product worth N15,000 and above, promising a refund with commission. That’s how people lose money,” Silas added.

In another screenshot forwarded to Sunday PUNCH by a Lagos-based engineer, Feyi Lawal, the sender wrote, “Sorry to message you so suddenly. My name is Ms Mamphela Abiola from Jiji online shopping. We got your number from various establishments’ surveys.

“Can you work from home with us as an online coordinator for the Merchant Hype Team? You will not deposit any money here. You can earn N100,000–N200,000 per day. Would you like to know how this works?”

Lawal said, “They can use any online marketing outlet. Once it gets to the point where they ask you to start depositing money, and you allow greed to push you further, you are trapped.

“Jiji has said it has no Telegram group, so when you suddenly find yourself added to one and they ask you to visit selected products on online shopping platforms, report such groups.”

Victims bemoan losses

A graduate, Seyi Oderinlo (not his real name), who fell victim to a task scam, alleged that one of the apps used by the scammers was Payportepro, a name deliberately similar to PayPorté, a legitimate Nigeria-based e-commerce brand.

“Many people don’t notice the difference between PayPorté and Payportepro, so they jump into it, like I did. These scammers created a fake site to dupe people.

“Once you click the link they send you and you are redirected to Payportepro, just know it’s a scam. They defrauded me before I realised it. Any scheme where they tell you to invest money so you can get double in return is a lie,” Oderinlo told Sunday PUNCH.

A visit by our reporter to the Payportepro website showed that the page was no longer accessible, returning a message that it could not connect to the server.

In a statement shared on its social media platforms, PayPorté warned the public against fraudulent job offers made in its name.

“Our attention has been drawn to the activities of fraudulent persons using dubious means to extort unsuspecting job seekers. We are currently not recruiting, and we will not demand payment in any form for job placement.”

“The general public is therefore advised to be wary of carrying out any cash transactions with any individual or group for the purpose of job placement in PayPorté. PayPorté will never send messages or ask for payment to secure employment. We will not be responsible for any consequences suffered by individuals who still fall prey to these scammers,” the statement read.

Also narrating her sister’s ordeal, an X user, Alayo (@Aunty_Akanke), said her sibling was contacted on TikTok by the suspects, who sent her a link to download an app called Payportepro.

“She registered and was given a referral code to use. Apart from the app, she was also chatting with a representative on Telegram, which she joined via a link. Her first payment was N5,000, and she was able to withdraw N7,000 plus,” she wrote.

“She kept adding N5,000 repeatedly until the amount rose to N2m because she was performing assigned tasks. She was then asked to add a specific amount to be able to withdraw the lump sum.”

Including receipts of the payments made, Alayo noted that for each transaction her sister was asked to carry out, she was given different account names, although they were all digital mobile banks.

“She became suspicious and spoke out when she was asked to pay another 20 per cent of the total amount, N2.4m, before she could withdraw her money.

“This is obviously a cheap scam because she even borrowed money from friends. This is someone who is very smart, and all her savings throughout her NYSC year were also involved,” Alayo wrote.

Unlocking your earnings?

On his Facebook account, a Kano-based Web3 tech enthusiast, Abdul Garba, said victims often fall for the scheme because the suspects pose as legitimate marketing brands.

“A sister reached out to me and said she had already been scammed of N480,000 by these same people. These scammers move from WhatsApp group to WhatsApp group, and from Telegram channel to Telegram channel.

“Once they add you, they immediately send a message about a ‘simple task’ that pays N2,000. The first task is usually to register on their fake website and send a screenshot. They will pretend to credit you with N2,000 instantly.

“They then tell you to return the next morning, around 9:20 a.m., for more tasks so you can ‘unlock’ your earnings. The next day, they will assign three more tasks, such as liking fake products on their website and sending screenshots,” Garba said.

He added that the final task is usually a request to deposit money or buy a product to unlock the promised reward.

“They assure you that after depositing, you’ll get your money back with a 30 per cent profit. But the moment you make that payment, that’s the end.

“They pretend to assist you, act as if they’re helping you reach the target, and once they’ve collected enough money, they quietly remove you from the group. No phone numbers, no identity, no way to trace them.

“This is one of the risks associated with Telegram, where scammers can hide easily and operate without being tracked,” Garba added.

Online marketing brands respond

In a statement shared across its social media platforms, Jiji said it had noticed what it described as a spike “in recruitment scam groups posing as Jiji on platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp.”

“They are deceiving people with fake job offers and fraudulent deals. Please note that Jiji only advertises job opportunities through its official website, verified social media channels, and authorised recruitment partners. Stay alert,” the company said.

Similarly, another online shopping brand, Konga, issued a statement warning that its name was being used by scammers to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

“Konga will never ask you to pay money to secure a job, request payments into personal accounts, promise unrealistic investment returns, or demand upfront fees for any service. Stay alert. Stay safe,” it stated.

Also providing its official contact lines for enquiries and order placement, Jumia warned, “Beware of scammers pretending to be Jumia staff. Never share personal information or make payments outside official channels. Always verify through authorised Jumia platforms.”

EFCC unravels suspects

On October 4, 2025, operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested 32 suspects involved in a suspected Ponzi-style investment and employment scam at multiple locations in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

According to the commission, the arrests followed weeks of surveillance linked to the gang’s alleged criminal activities.

Similarly, in December 2024, the EFCC arrested 792 suspects connected to cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams at the Big Leaf Building, a seven-storey complex in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking at a press briefing at the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate, the Executive Chairman of the commission, Ola Olukoyede, said those arrested included 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, two Kazakhstans, one Pakistani and one Indonesian.

The foreign nationals allegedly used the facility as a training hub to coach their Nigerian accomplices in executing romance and investment scams.

According to the EFCC, each floor of the building was equipped with high-end desktop computers, while investigators recovered about 500 SIM cards from local telecommunications firms on the fifth floor alone, which were allegedly used for phishing activities.

The syndicate leaders reportedly provided their Nigerian recruits with computers, mobile devices and fake online profiles, tasking them with luring unsuspecting victims through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram.

‘Everybody wants to get rich’

The Securities and Exchange Commission has disclosed that Nigerians have lost an estimated N316bn to Ponzi schemes and illegal fund managers over the years, warning that a toxic mix of greed and ignorance continues to fuel the menace.

The Head of the FinTech and Innovation Department at the commission, AbdulRasheed Dan-Abu, revealed this while presenting a paper on combating investment fraud in Abuja.

Describing Ponzi schemes as fraudulent investment operations, he explained that such schemes generate no real value, but rather pay early investors with funds collected from new entrants.

“These schemes are not really doing anything. They are simply collecting people’s money and using it to pay the Initial investors. At some point, when there are no new investors, the whole thing collapses, and the operators disappear,” Dan-Abu said.

He attributed the scale of losses to what he described as a pervasive get-rich-quick mindset, warning that both promoters and participants in unregistered investment schemes risk prosecution under the Investment and Securities Act, 2025.

“Everybody just wants to get rich today. That is what makes people fall into this trap. Ironically, the people being scammed today are more educated than those who experienced Charles Ponzi’s first scheme. Education has not eliminated greed,” Dan-Abu noted.

He cited provisions of the Act which criminalise the offer of unregistered securities or the solicitation of public funds without SEC approval, adding that offenders face fines of up to 50 per cent of the value of the illegal securities or imprisonment.

Tackling the demand

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, a cybersecurity expert and founder of Web Security Lab, David Odes, said that to understand why task-based scams continue to thrive, it is crucial to first examine the demand driving them.

According to him, a large number of Nigerians spend significant time online actively searching for ways to make money with minimal effort.

“That demand creates fertile ground for platforms and schemes that promise easy earnings for simple online activities. These scams are not forced on an unwilling audience; they are carefully designed to meet an existing appetite,” Odes said.

The cybersecurity expert explained that victims are often contacted directly or through referrals and encouraged to sign up on platforms that promise income for low-effort tasks such as reading articles, liking posts or reviewing products.

“Early payouts are deliberate and strategic. They serve as proof of legitimacy and are meant to lower scepticism,” he said.

Odes noted that once trust is established, participants are asked to pay registration, activation or ‘upgrade’ fees to unlock higher-paying tasks. Referral programmes are then introduced, incentivising users to recruit friends and family.

“At that stage, the scheme largely begins to market itself,” he added.

The cybersecurity and privacy expert further explained that scammers do not require privileged access to messaging platforms to operate.

“Phone numbers are widely available because Nigerians routinely submit their contact details through online forms, giveaways, apps and promotions. These numbers are then aggregated from leaked databases, scraped marketing lists, compromised applications and data-broker ecosystems,” he said.

According to him, once acquired, unsolicited outreach via WhatsApp or Telegram becomes effortless, with the spread further amplified through referrals.

“When a participant recruits others, the scam gains credibility through social trust rather than technical sophistication. This removes the need for mass advertising and significantly lowers operational costs for the perpetrators,” Odes explained.

He stressed that the Issue is less of a technical security failure and more of a behavioural and economic problem.

“While platforms can and should limit mass cold outreach and enforce stricter controls on new accounts, no amount of technical mitigation will succeed without addressing user susceptibility to ‘easy money’ narratives.

“These scams persist because the model aligns with user expectations. As long as the demand exists, the supply will adapt,” Odes said.

The cybersecurity expert advised Nigerians to remain cautious of unsolicited job or investment offers.

“If it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is. If an unknown number contacts you with promises of easy money, report and block it. Doing so increases the chances of faster detection and takedown,” he added. (Sunday PUNCH)

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