They paid you to tap. Now they want a deposit? Stop here.

A task app shows a growing balance, then asks you to deposit money to unlock your earnings.

Some online “jobs” ask you to like videos, rate products or complete other tiny tasks. An app may show your balance growing, then say you must pay in to unlock the next set of tasks or withdraw your earnings. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission calls this a task scam and says unexpected texts or WhatsApp messages can be the start.

The balance on screen is not proof that money is available to withdraw. In examples described by the FTC, scammers ask people to send cryptocurrency to release supposed earnings. The details of job reporting differ by country, but paying money first to get work or wages is a strong warning sign.

Before you act: Don’t send the deposit. Close the link and check the employer and job listing through an independently found official website. If you already paid, contact the bank or payment service you used immediately and ask whether the transfer can be stopped or recovered.

FTC material describes U.S. consumer reports; not every online rating job is necessarily a scam.

Sources: FTC, task scams; FTC, job scams.