She Got a Text Offering a “Simple” Job. It Cost Her $20,000

The Scam That Cost a Woman $20,000

Imagine receiving a text message that turns your life into a financial nightmare. That’s exactly what happened to a New York woman who claims she lost approximately $20,000 after falling victim to fake recruiters. According to reports, this type of employment fraud is on the rise across the United States.

A Growing Threat

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has reported that losses from job scams have tripled from 2020 to 2023. In 2025 alone, employment scams cost Americans over $630 million. These scams often involve individuals pretending to be recruiters or staffing agencies, using tactics designed to gain trust and lure victims into fraudulent schemes.

The Story of Kathryn Detweiler

Upper West Side resident Kathryn Detweiler shared her experience with a local news outlet. Her nightmare began with a simple text message from someone claiming to be a recruiter. To make the offer seem legitimate, the scammer used the name of a former employer of hers. They directed her to a website that appeared to be connected to well-known brands like Strava, AXS Tickets, and Monopoly.

According to Detweiler, the job involved approving online ads. However, there was a catch: She had to use her own money upfront to “fund” the advertisements, with promises of reimbursement and profit later. At first, the arrangement seemed real, as she invested around $18 and received a payout of roughly $120. This built trust and encouraged her to continue.

Over time, she deposited more money while the platform displayed a growing account balance. However, whenever she tried to withdraw her earnings, the company allegedly told her she needed to deposit even more money first. Eventually, her family recognized the scheme for what it was and intervened.

“I sort of just broke down, and my family found me, and I told them the whole story,” Detweiler said. “They just told me, ‘Kathryn, this is a scam, you have to get out of it.’ They will just milk you until you’re dry. There will be nothing left.”

The Scammers’ Tactics

The scammers allegedly used a website designed to mimic a legitimate UK-based marketing company called Mediareach. The real company later confirmed that fraudsters had cloned portions of its website and that it does not operate in the U.S.

For Detweiler, the financial fallout has been devastating. “It has made everything so incredibly tight,” she said. “I don’t have money to buy groceries a lot of weeks.”

Red Flags to Watch For

With more recruitment happening online, job seekers need to be vigilant against these increasingly sophisticated scams. Here are some red flags to watch out for:

• Requests to send money
• Job offers that arrive unexpectedly
• Pressure to act quickly
• Promises of high pay for simple tasks
• Requests to move conversations to encrypted messaging apps
• Requests for cryptocurrency payments or bank transfers
• Not being able to speak with a manager or HR representative in person or on video

How to Protect Yourself

The FTC warns that legitimate employers will never require workers to deposit money, purchase cryptocurrency, pay upfront fees, or fund company transactions using personal accounts. The Better Business Bureau echoes this advice, calling it “insidious” and urging people to avoid any situation where they have to pay to get paid.

The FBI has also warned that scammers often create fake websites that closely resemble real businesses, making the scam more challenging to spot.

Steps to Take

If you suspect a job scam, the FTC recommends reporting suspicious job offers through its fraud reporting portal. It also cautions that if you’ve sent any money, you should keep an eye on your accounts. You should also verify companies independently before responding to job offers. Instead of clicking links sent by recruiters, job seekers should visit official company websites directly, search for verified contact information, and confirm whether the role actually exists.

As job scams continue to surge nationwide, the smartest way to protect yourself is to be skeptical of any offers that seem too good to be true and do your research. As for Detweiler, she’s hoping police can help her figure out who took her $20,000.