Earning
How to avoid online job and payment scams in India
Common task and payment scams in India, from “registration fee” jobs to fake UPI refunds, the warning signs, and what to do if you have been cheated.
Quick answer
A real job never asks you to pay to start. Never pay a “registration” or “deposit” fee, never share an OTP, and never enter your UPI PIN to receive money; a PIN is only needed to send. If you are cheated, call the cyber crime helpline 1930 straight away and report it at cybercrime.gov.in.
- Real work never charges you to start
- UPI PIN is only for sending money
- Never share an OTP with anyone
- Cheated? Call 1930 and report at cybercrime.gov.in
The most common scams
- “Registration fee” jobs: you are promised work, but first must pay for a kit, ID or deposit.
- Task scams: you are paid small amounts for likes or reviews, then asked to “invest” to unlock bigger payouts.
- Fake refunds: someone sends a QR code or a “collect request” and says you’ll receive money if you enter your PIN.
- Overpayment: a customer “accidentally” sends too much and asks you to return the extra, then the first payment bounces.
- Fake customer care: a number found online asks you to install a screen-sharing app.
Warning signs
- Pressure to act fast: “offer valid for 10 minutes”
- Moving the chat to an unknown app or a Telegram group
- Requests for OTPs, PINs, or screen sharing
- Payments that look too good for the work asked
What to do if you’ve been cheated
- Call the national cyber crime helpline 1930 as soon as possible. The faster you call, the better the chance of freezing the money.
- Report it online at cybercrime.gov.in.
- Tell your bank and block your card or UPI if needed.
- Keep screenshots of chats, numbers and transaction IDs.
How Taskly is designed against this
On Taskly, taskers never pay to bid or join. The customer’s money is held by an RBI-authorised payment partner before work starts, and payouts go straight to your bank or UPI. Keep all chat and payments on the platform: anyone asking you to pay or chat outside it is a red flag.
Common questions
Do I need my UPI PIN to receive money?
Is it normal to pay a fee to get freelance work?
What is the cyber crime helpline number in India?
Taskly is a people-to-people task marketplace for India. Made by Tecknova IT Solutions (Australia) in partnership with BlackForgeX Pvt Ltd.