What to save after a job scam

What matters most from a job or task scam

The strongest evidence shows how you were recruited, what you were asked to pay, and what was promised in return. A job or task scam usually starts with an easy task and small payouts before it asks you to pay in.

Save these details before the group chat is deleted or the recruiter disappears, since both often happen once the scam is exposed. A transaction chronology helps put the payments in order afterward.

The job posting, app, or group that recruited you

Screenshot the original job advertisement or message, including where it appeared, whether social media, a messaging app, or a job listing site. Save the app or platform used for the “tasks” themselves, along with its name and any company details shown.

If you were asked to download a specific app, keep it on your phone if possible, and screenshot its interface, including any task list or earnings dashboard.

Every payment and the “commission” that never came

Save every transfer you made, including small ones described as “deposits” or “top-ups” to unlock higher-paying tasks. Include the date, amount, and the account or wallet each payment went to.

Screenshot the earnings shown in the app and any message explaining why your commission or balance could not be withdrawn. This gap between the promised amount and what you actually received is often the clearest sign of the scam.

The recruiter and any group chat involved

Save the name, phone number, and profile of whoever recruited you or acted as your “supervisor”, even if you believe these details are false. Keep the full conversation, including how you were first approached.

If you were added to a group chat with other “workers”, save messages from that group too, since they often show the same pattern used on other people. Read how to screenshot chat and call evidence for the right way to capture this.

What to do next

Bring the job posting, app records, payment history, and chat logs together, then make a police report so the case can be investigated. If the transfer was recent, contact your bank and call the National Scam Response Centre on 997.

Once your file is complete, read how to organise evidence for a lawyer for how to present it clearly.