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Probamos la estafa viral de TikTok y esto fue lo que pasó

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Overview

Alerta Latina reports a viral TikTok job/earning scam that tricks users into believing they can make money quickly by watching videos, earning commissions that are supposedly “just one click away.” Although similar reports have appeared before, this report highlights how scam networks keep evolving and continuing to ensnare people.

How the scam is presented on TikTok (the “hook”)

The videos/ads claim users can earn money by watching TikTok, often with fixed payouts, such as:

  • “Watch one video, 100 soles”
  • “Two videos, 200 soles”
  • “Five videos…” (and similar tiered promises)

They also include “convenient” incentives:

  • You can start/finish anytime, even daily
  • Payments are claimed to be immediate or daily

The ads instruct users to click a link to learn more.

What happens after clicking (WhatsApp + international numbers)

After clicking one of these TikTok ads, a user is automatically redirected to WhatsApp.

Key tactics include:

  • The scammers use foreign phone codes, making it harder for authorities to trace the operators.
  • In the WhatsApp chat, the scammers portray the victim’s “earnings” as commissions tied to a structured “task” system.

Conversation tactics (trust-building + language/currency manipulation)

Scammers use professional-sounding messaging and may reference names such as:

  • “Caper Store customer service”
  • “Mercadoolibbre”

To build trust, they may ask personal questions such as the victim’s age, framed as a requirement to qualify.

They also adapt language and currency depending on the victim’s country. The report notes examples where wording was inconsistent (e.g., saying “feet” instead of the local “soles”), which could alert victims.

Step-by-step infiltration (recreated by the production team)

To document how the scam works, the production team reenacted the process:

  1. Click TikTok link → WhatsApp

    • They introduce themselves as recruiting/assistant staff linked to a marketplace (e.g., “Mercadoolibbre”).
    • They push the victim to register and perform “missions.”

  2. Registration on a controlled platform

    • The victim is instructed to create an account using a link controlled by the scammers, effectively giving the scammers control over the system.

  3. Transfer to Telegram (third phase)

    • After registration, the flow moves to Telegram, framed as “exclusive customer service” for “privileged members.”
    • Scammers claim the victim will receive a small bonus (e.g., 7 soles) before guiding them through “beginner tasks.”

The hidden investment scheme (the “real” scam)

Although the TikTok ad claims money comes from watching videos, the Telegram phase reveals a deposit/investment ladder.

The report describes an example chart (with the marketplace logo) where tasks require increasing deposits, such as:

  • Deposit small amounts (e.g., “20 soles”) to withdraw “profit” later
  • Move to higher levels with larger deposits, culminating in promises like 3,000 soles

The production team reports that after depositing 20 soles, they received “40 soles” credited inside the scammers’ system/managed account. The “proof” is then used to convince victims to deposit more, but the real goal is extracting larger sums.

The scam also uses screenshots of others’ “wins” to create legitimacy and pressure victims to continue investing.

Why it works (psychological pressure + urgency)

Scammers use multiple psychological triggers, including:

  • Urgency (e.g., “limited slots per day”)
  • Repeated persuasive framing of decisions:
    • If you don’t deposit, you won’t get “big profits”
  • Escalation once the victim believes they are already earning

Reported impact and official confirmation

The report states it documented cases where victims lose thousands of soles, including a testimony of someone losing over 10,000 soles.

It also claims confirmation of related platforms with DIRINCRI (Peru’s criminal investigations authority), which indicated there are complaints related to this modality.

Advice from the segment

  • Report TikTok ads and accounts that lead to these task/investment flows.
  • Red flag: any promise of easy/quick money for simple actions like video-watching.
  • MercadoLibre is not behind these operations; scammers impersonate brands to gain trust.
  • Warn vulnerable people—especially elderly relatives—who may be more susceptible.

Closing: how to submit reports

The segment provides channels to report cases, including:

  • Email: morna@latina.p
  • Phone number announced: 919 298 582

Presenters or contributors

  • Alerta Latina (production team and live-comment segment)
  • Carlos (mentioned in the form “Marco García” / “Marco García tells us”)
  • Alexander
  • Daniel
  • Jorge Serrat
  • Janet
  • Vicky
  • Vicky (repeated as a viewer comment)
  • Jorge Serrat (viewer comment)
  • Daniel (viewer comment)
  • Marco García (viewer comment)
  • Sol (name used for the production team’s participant in the scam test)

Original video