Forsyth County warns of fake work-from-home text scams
Forsyth County flagged fake work-from-home texts that promise easy money, then push victims to a link that can steal personal data. The scam can snowball into identity theft and account takeover.
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Financial Crimes Unit warned residents after receiving reports of text messages and social-media pitches offering fake work-from-home jobs. The messages promise easy money for vague online tasks such as reviewing products, then send people to a link that asks for personal information.
Once someone responds, scammers can collect identifying details, push for account access, or steer the conversation into requests for money, exposing victims to identity theft, account takeover and other fraud.
In December 2024, the FTC said losses to job scams more than tripled from 2020 to 2023, and reported losses topped $220 million in the first half of 2024. Task scams made up nearly 40% of 2024 job-scam reports, often starting with unexpected texts or WhatsApp messages that offer online work with few specifics. Those pitches may promise thousands of dollars a month for little time and effort.
Fake recruiters pose as employees of legitimate companies and recruit victims for online-only positions. In some cases, scammers later ask victims to deposit their own money through cryptocurrency or money transfers to keep the “job” going. The FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Complaint Center received 859,532 complaints with more than $16.6 billion in reported losses, and Georgia ranked 11th among states with about $420 million in reported potential losses.
Upfront payment, unusually high pay for simple tasks and requests to move money on behalf of a company are red flags, Georgia’s consumer-protection office warns. Forsyth County scam alerts told residents to delete suspicious texts and not respond, and they should verify any job offer through an official source before sharing bank details, a Social Security number or any other personal information.
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