TL;DR: FTC data shows job scam reports mentioning so-called "task scams" quadrupled in just the first half of 2024 compared to all of 2023, with total job-scam losses topping $220 million in that same six-month window.
FTC data shows job scam reports mentioning so-called "task scams" quadrupled in just the first half of 2024 compared to all of 2023, with total job-scam losses topping $220 million in that same six-month window.
What the Data Shows
Legitimate employers never ask candidates to pay upfront, complete paid "tasks" with their own money, or provide banking details before a formal offer — any of those requests is enough reason to walk away from a job listing.
Why This Matters
Numbers like these are a reminder that this isn’t a rare event — it’s a routine risk. Checking whether your own information has already been exposed takes 30 seconds and costs nothing.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading Online Shopping Fraud Statistics 2026.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see Password Reuse Statistics: Why It's Still a Problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the numbers actually show?
FTC data shows job scam reports mentioning so-called "task scams" quadrupled in just the first half of 2024 compared to all of 2023, with total job-scam losses topping $220 million in that same six-month window.
What does this mean for you?
Legitimate employers never ask candidates to pay upfront, complete paid "tasks" with their own money, or provide banking details before a formal offer — any of those requests is enough reason to walk away from a job listing.
Where does this data come from?
This data is drawn from FTC – Job Scam Data Spotlight, a primary reporting source for fraud and identity theft data.