Scam alert: No, you can’t ‘earn money watching videos’ on platform called PesaTube
IN SHORT: Claims that a company called PesaTube is paying social media users to watch videos daily are false, and similar to a previous scam Africa Check debunked.
According to a message sent to Africa Check on WhatsApp, users can “earn money watching videos”.
The message, also doing the rounds on Facebook here, here and here, claims that a platform called PesaTube will give users money for watching videos on YouTube:
*AMAZING OPPORTUNITY!**PesaTube* – New platform for *YouTube**Earn Money Watching Videos!*· Get R165 welcome bonus· Watch videos daily = Earn daily· Instant payments*Join NOW!*https://cuvimox.site/ref/presentb?s=wa Official Youtube platformSafe & Trusted
But are these posts legit? We checked.
Signs of dangerous scam
A quick Google search for the “PesaTube” platform came up empty.
We could find no evidence for a website or company under that name online.
However, other websites speak about PesaTube, saying that it claims to pay users for watching videos with the website PesaTube.site.
When searching for this website, we were redirected to another URL (frixoby.site) which was immediately flagged as dangerous by our antivirus software.
According to AVG, these dangerous websites can house advanced malware threats, like spyware and ransomware, and “simply landing on a compromised page can be enough to compromise your security”.
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But there are also other signs that the messages aren’t legit.
They include an unverified link that asks users to log in with personal information, which could lead to fraud.
The claim is also similar to a previous claim we’ve debunked as a scam. Best to steer clear.
Tips for recurring scams
For maximum reach with minimal effort, scammers often repost the same message but change certain parts, like a company name or date. So what can you look out for when it comes to recurring scams?
- Look for similarities: Often, these scams have been debunked numerous times. Search key words in the scam to see if other similar versions have been checked.
- Be wary with links: If scammers use the same link for multiple different scams, it may already be flagged by antivirus software as unsafe.
- Stay informed to stay ahead: Taking the time to check and verify facts, such as checking whether a company in a potential scam even exists, can help you avoid being misled.