Reels Task Scam: How “Like and Earn” Telegram Groups and Upfront Fees Work

By Influish Editorial Team · Published 6 November 2026 · Last updated 6 November 2026

How does the like-and-earn task scam work?

Reported cases and official warnings describe the same five-stage sequence. The details change — liking Reels, following accounts, rating hotels or map locations — but the shape doesn’t.

1. The hook

It usually begins with an ad or a message promising easy part-time income. In December 2023 the Ministry of Home Affairs described these frauds as starting with targeted digital ads using phrases such as “ghar baithe job” (work from home), aimed largely at retired people, women and unemployed young people looking for part-time work (as reported by IANS via The News Minute). In the Mumbai case reported by Digit, the hook was an ad seen while scrolling Reels that offered pay for liking videos.

2. The group

The victim is moved to WhatsApp or Telegram, where an “HR” contact or “mentor” explains the tasks. Groups are often full of members posting screenshots of their earnings — which costs a scammer nothing to fake.

3. The bait

You complete a few simple tasks and actually receive small payments. Both the Digit and Business Today cases describe this step: the scammers paid small amounts first precisely so the victim would trust them.

4. The ask

Then come “prepaid”, “merchant” or “VIP” tasks that require you to deposit money with the promise of higher returns. According to the MHA statement, victims receive a small commission and are then asked to invest more; once larger sums are deposited, the deposits are frozen.

5. The lock

Your dashboard shows a growing balance you can’t withdraw. To “release” it, you’re told to pay a tax, a fee, or to finish one more task. In the Mumbai case, after ₹6.37 lakh had been sent across three transactions, the scammers demanded further payments described as taxes. Paying again never unlocks the money.

What other “earn by scrolling” scams should I know about?

The Cyber Dost warning reported by Asianet Newsable in September 2023 listed payment for watching YouTube videos, rating movies, reviewing hotels and following Instagram accounts among the bait, spread via Telegram and WhatsApp. A separate government warning reported by The Logical Indian highlighted unusually high pay, upfront fees and requests for sensitive data as red flags.

Why did they pay me first if it is a scam?

Because the first payment is the cheapest way to win your trust. In a case reported by BW PoliceWorld on 21 March 2023, Delhi Police said a man who answered an Instagram post about “earning huge money daily working from home” was first able to withdraw a small deposit plus commission; when the amount grew, he could not withdraw it and was told to pay more as “government tax”. He lost more than ₹9 lakh, and police arrested two people. The Digit and Business Today cases above follow the same order: a small real payout, then larger deposits that never come back.

Why are upfront fees always a red flag?

A genuine employer pays you; it does not need your money to hire you. Registration fees, training fees, “security deposits”, equipment kits and “ID activation” charges are ways of collecting money from many applicants with no job at the end. The amount often starts small so it feels low-risk, and then grows.

How do scammers make it look legitimate?

• Borrowing the name of a real company or a viral news story.
• Fake appointment letters and “HR” profiles with stock photos.
• Group chats where most “members” are accounts run by the scammers.
• Real payments at the start, to defeat your scepticism.
• Time pressure: “this task expires in 20 minutes”.

Running an offer through our “Is this offer legit?” checklist takes two minutes and catches every one of these.

What should I do if I’ve already paid?

1. Call 1930 immediately. The Ministry of Home Affairs’ I4C lists 1930 as the number to report cybercrime; speed matters for financial fraud.
2. File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
3. Tell your bank and ask about the transactions you made.
4. Keep evidence: screenshots of chats and the group, phone numbers, handles, UPI IDs, transaction references.
5. Stop paying. “Recovery agents” who promise to get your money back for a fee are a second scam.

For a fuller walkthrough of reporting, including what evidence to keep, see how to report a job scam in India (our sister guide, Viral Jobs India). To report a suspicious call, SMS or WhatsApp message before money is lost, use Chakshu on the DoT’s Sanchar Saathi portal.

So is there any safe way to earn from social media?

Yes, but it looks like work: research, moderation, rating or creating, for a traceable employer. Start with legitimate social media research jobs and how real Reel-watching roles differ from task offers. Looking for remote work specifically? Read Instagram work from home jobs: real vs fake.