From AnywhereHire to TikTok “Task” Hustles: Mapping the New Wave of Fake Remote-Job Scams (2025 Edition)
TL;DR WhatsApp-only “task jobs” are now the fastest-growing fraud category online. Reported losses topped $220 million in the first half of 2024 . Four archetypes dominate 2025: (a) fake platforms like AnywhereHire ; (b) TikTok-branded “like/follow” gigs; (c) company-impersonation scams (Runn, Pendo, etc.); (d) generic “Pay-to-Get-Paid” apps that lock your funds until you deposit more. Ghost listings blur the line between incompetence and fraud. 3 in 10 companies publicly admit to running at least one fake job ad right now. Scroll for a red-flag checklist, a hunter-hunter response script, and crowd-sourced resources to protect yourself.