Five checks before you accept
1. Find the company independently. Open its official website yourself. Confirm that the project and contact details match. A logo or a polished message is not proof of identity.
2. Ask for a specific brief. It should explain the action, recording requirements, eligibility and submission process. Be cautious when large earnings are promised without describing the work.
3. Read the payment conditions. Find out what is paid: submitted footage, approved footage or completed tasks. Ask about rejection, payment timing and any fees before starting.
4. Understand the recording's use. Look for terms explaining permitted uses, access and retention. If your face, voice, home or workplace will be visible, decide whether those terms are acceptable to you.
5. Keep a record. Save the brief, agreed terms, submission reference and correspondence. These help you resolve a disagreement about what was requested.
Stop if you are asked to fund your earnings
The FTC describes task scams in which a platform displays fake earnings, then asks for a deposit, often in cryptocurrency, to release them. A small initial payout does not prove the offer is genuine.
Another warning sign is a check sent for “equipment,” followed by instructions to send money back or buy from a specified contact. The FTC's job scam guide explains how these fake-check schemes work.
A real camera purchase you independently choose is different from paying a recruiter to unlock wages. Verify the assignment before spending either way.
If you already sent money or information
Stop sending more. Save evidence and contact your bank or payment provider promptly to ask what recovery options exist. Change exposed passwords. In the US, report the offer through ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For identity misuse, use the official recovery guidance at IdentityTheft.gov.
Questions, answered.
Is asking for ID always a scam?
No. Verified services may need identity or tax information. Confirm the service and use its official secure process, rather than replying to an unverified message with documents.
Are videos of my hands anonymous?
Not necessarily. Tattoos, reflections, voices, documents and the location can reveal identity. Review the frame and the project's privacy terms.
How do I check a Wake opportunity?
Start at wake.inc/contribute, read the linked agreements and confirm the task through the official app. Verify unexpected outreach independently.
Sources linked throughout. Checked October 28, 2026.