Is this a scam? checker
Checked in your browser. Nothing you paste leaves your device unless you choose to share it below.
Or tick what happened
Not sure what to try yet?
In about 7 minutes, the free test matches ways to earn to your skills, time, data and budget.
Who it is for
It is for anyone who has been sent an offer that seems too good: a WhatsApp job, a Telegram task group, a remote job that needs a fee, a trading account manager or a business opportunity from a friend. It is also useful for parents and older relatives who are often targeted.
Use it before you pay anything, share any codes or sign up.
How it works
The checker looks for ten warning signs we see again and again in South African job, task and investment scams: paying to start, paid "likes" and reviews, guaranteed returns, earning by recruiting, crypto "account managers", pressure to decide, requests for your OTP or ID, anonymous contacts, vague answers about who pays, and overpayment refunds.
If you paste text, the matching runs in your browser. Nothing you paste is sent to us unless you choose to share it, and you can share just the warning signs without the text.
Each warning sign carries a weight, and the most serious ones (paying to start, task top-ups, guaranteed returns, recruitment, sharing codes) are high risk on their own.
Worked example
Message: "Hi! Earn R800 a day by liking YouTube videos.
Join our Telegram group. Pay R200 registration to unlock VIP tasks."
The checker finds paid liking in a Telegram group, and a registration fee to unlock tasks. Either one alone is high risk.
The advice: do not pay, do not share codes, and report the number to the platform where you found it.
Tips before you rely on it
- Search the company name plus the word scam, and check the company on the CIPC register before you give any details.
- A real employer will happily do a video interview and give you a written contract with a physical address.
- Never send money to receive money, whether it is a fee, a deposit, a tax, or a top-up to unlock earnings.
- If you already paid, stop paying, keep all screenshots and phone your bank straight away.
Questions people ask
Does a low score mean it is safe?
No. Scammers change their wording. A low score means none of the classic patterns were found, so still verify the company and never pay a joining or "activation" fee.
Do you store what I paste?
No. The check runs in your browser. If you tick the consent box we save the warning signs found, and the text only if you tick a second box.
Where do I report a scam in South Africa?
Investment and trading scams: the FSCA. Pyramid schemes: the National Consumer Commission. Identity theft: SAFPS and your bank. Money lost: a case at SAPS.
Is MLM a scam?
Not always, but if most of the money comes from recruiting people who pay to join, it is an illegal pyramid scheme under the Consumer Protection Act. Try our pyramid scheme quiz.
Can the checker tell if a website is fake?
Not directly. It checks the message or offer for known patterns. For websites, check the company on CIPC, look for a physical address and search for reviews.
Sources (3)
- Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, section 43: pyramid and related schemes
- FSCA: regulated entities search
- Southern African Fraud Prevention Service
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Earn Path is not a financial services provider and does not give financial advice. This tool gives estimates for your own planning.