The GoodTask SMS Scam: Why That “$10,000 Salary” Text is a Trap
Let’s be honest: if a stranger walked up to you at Circle or Kejetia Market and offered you 150,000 GHS just to tap your phone screen, you would immediately know it was a lie. Unless that stranger is MrBeast filming a viral video, nobody is giving you that kind of money for free. You might even laugh in their face.
But when that same lie arrives as an SMS on your phone from “GoodTask,” something shifts.
The message looks clean. The sender name isn’t a number — it looks official. And the promise?
“Congratulations! You have been selected… Earn $10,000 USD monthly working from home.”
In this harsh economy, even the smartest people hesitate. You stare at the link. You check your Mobile Money balance. You wonder, ‘Why not just try? What if it’s the breakthrough I’ve been praying for?’
That hesitation is exactly what they are banking on.
I am writing this to snap you out of that moment. That text message is not a lifeline; it is a lure. I don’t want you to lose the little money you have left to a faceless criminal.
Here is the truth about the “GoodTask” scam.
3 Red Flags You Missed
Scammers count on you being desperate. They count on you ignoring the warning signs because the promise of cash is so blinding. Let’s look at that text message again with clear eyes.
1. You Never Applied
Ask yourself: When did you apply to “GoodTask”?
Real companies do not go hunting for random people to pay them CEO-level salaries. If Shell or MTN wants to hire a manager, they post a job ad, conduct interviews, and vet candidates. They don’t send unsolicited SMS messages to random Vodafone or MTN numbers at 8:00 PM.
If you didn’t apply, you weren’t “selected.” You were targeted.
2. The Math Doesn’t Add Up
Let’s be brutally honest about the money. They are promising $10,000 USD a month.
Do you know who earns that kind of money in Ghana?
- Not your branch manager at the bank.
- Not a senior lecturer at Legon.
- Not even most CEOs of major Ghanaian companies.
The average monthly salary for a Managing Director or CEO in Ghana often ranges between 20,000 GHS and 50,000 GHS.
This “GoodTask” text is telling you that you can earn three times what a Bank CEO earns, just by clicking buttons on your phone part-time? If this were true, nobody in Ghana would go to work tomorrow. Every trotro driver, nurse, and banker would quit their job to tap on their phone for “GoodTask.”
3. The Shady Link
Look at the link in the message. Does it say www.jobberman.com?
No. It says tinyurl or bit.ly or some strange string of letters. Legitimate companies want you to see their brand name in the URL. Scammers use link shorteners to hide where they are really taking you —usually a poorly built website or a WhatsApp group filled with fake “workers” praising the system.
What Happens If You Click?
I know you are curious. I clicked the link so you don’t have to. Here is exactly what happens inside the trap.
The Honey Pot
You land on a website that looks vaguely professional. It has a dashboard showing tasks like “Order Processing” or “Product Rating.”
You sign up. Immediately, the dashboard shows you a balance: 20 GHS or $5 USD.
They tell you, “This is your free signup bonus!” You feel good. You think, See? It’s real. I already made money.
The Hook
They ask you to complete simple tasks. You might have to tap “Submit Order” on pictures of shoes or electronics. It takes five minutes.
Suddenly, your dashboard says you have earned 50 GHS. They might even let you withdraw this small amount to your Momo wallet.
This is the most dangerous part. They pay you a small amount first to earn your trust. They want you to tell your friends. They want you to believe.
The Sting
Now that you are hooked, the tasks stop. A message pops up:
“To continue earning and unlock higher commissions, you must upgrade to VIP Level 2.”
Or they might say:
“You have a ‘Frozen Order’. You must deposit 500 GHS to clear the order and withdraw your 2,000 GHS earnings.”
They promise that if you send them 500 GHS, you will get it back instantly plus your profit.
You send the money. The dashboard numbers go up. But when you try to withdraw? Error.
- “You need to pay tax fees.”
- “You need to pay a withdrawal processing fee.”
- “System maintenance.”
They will keep making excuses to get you to send more money until you realize you have been robbed. By then, the “customer service” line has blocked you.
But the SMS came from the name GoodTask!
This is the part that confuses most people. How did they get the name “GoodTask” to show up on my phone instead of a phone number?
It’s called Sender ID Spoofing.
Just like you can buy bulk SMS services to send wedding invitations with the sender name “Kojo&Ama,” scammers can buy cheap bulk SMS packages from shady providers. They simply type “GoodTask” (or “Amazon”, or “JumiaJobs”) into the “Sender Name” field.
It does not mean they are a registered company. It just means they paid 50 cedis for a bulk SMS credit.
What To Do Now
If you received this text:
- Don’t Waste Your Time Replying. It is technically impossible to reply to these messages on most devices anyway. On Android phones, the text box is usually blocked with a “Can’t reply to this short code” error. On iPhones, while you might be able to type a response, hitting send will likely result in a “Message Send Failure” or red exclamation mark. Even if a message did manage to go through, it would only confirm to the scammers that your number is active, leading to even more spam.
- Do Not Click the Link. This is the most critical rule. Do not tap that tinyurl or bit.ly link. Clicking it proves you are curious and can expose you to phishing sites or malware.
- Delete the Text. Don’t let it sit there tempting you.
- Warn Your Circle. Take a screenshot (without clicking the link) and post it on your WhatsApp status. Tell your family: “If you see GoodTask, it is fake.”
The internet is full of real opportunities, but none of them involve earning $10,000 for tapping a screen. Real money takes real work. Protect your wallet, protect your peace of mind, and stay safe out there.
