Fake TikTok rewards promise cash you’ll never get

TikTok-branded “rewards” pages are promising users cash for checking in every day, completing small tasks, and earning points. Those points supposedly convert into real money, and the balances look enormous. A countdown timer usually warns that your balance is about to expire. But when you try to withdraw it, there’s always something else you need to do first. If you just want the short version TikTok does have a legitimate Creator Rewards Program, but it doesn’t work like the sites we’re talking about here. Creator Rewards is for eligible creators in certain countries who meet specific requirements. They earn rewards for eligible original videos, not for checking in every day or completing tasks on a separate rewards website. If you find a TikTok-branded site offering large cash rewards for check-ins, referrals, or simple tasks, don’t assume it’s legitimate just because TikTok has its own rewards program. You can end up chasing a payout that was never coming, handing over personal or banking details, or installing an unwanted app. How these pages typically work Most versions of this scam are built to look like a mobile shopping or loyalty app. There’s a TikTok logo, a “welcome back” greeting, a daily check-in tracker, and tabs for tasks, referrals, and your profile. At first glance, it can easily look like an official rewards program connected to TikTok. When you tap through to the “redeem” screen, the numbers can show a cash balance in the thousands, converted from a huge pile of points, along with a countdown warning that your balance is about to expire. The minimum withdrawal is usually low enough to make cashing out look easy. It isn’t. Sites like this tend to introduce one more requirement every time you get close to actually withdrawing the cash. Refer more friends, watch more videos, complete a sponsored offer through an affiliate network, or download a separate app to “verify” your identity. The app download may be the real goal, particularly if the operator gets paid for generating installs. The app could also be adware or other unwanted software. Big numbers don’t mean real money Nothing on these pages reflects a real ledger. A balance on the screen doesn’t mean there’s money waiting for you. On a fake rewards site, the points, cash balance, and countdown can simply be numbers generated by the site itself, with no connection to TikTok’s actual systems. The operator simply invents a sum that feels too good to walk away from. So who is making money? These sites tend to make money the same way most ad-funnel scams do: through affiliate and CPA (cost-per-action) programs. CPA means the site operator can get paid when you do something, such as clicking an ad, signing up for a service, or installing an app. So even if you never receive the promised reward, your clicks, sign-ups, and downloads can still make money for someone else. Why it’s easy to get pulled in A daily check-in streak creates a small sense of investment. Walking away means giving up your streak and the money you think you’ve already earned. Then there’s the big balance sitting on the screen and a countdown telling you it’ll disappear if you don’t act soon. Together, they give you plenty of reasons to keep going and very little time to question whether any of it is real. What to do if you find one Don’t enter banking details, card numbers, or ID information unless you’ve confirmed you’re using an official TikTok service. If you were prompted to download an app outside TikTok itself, don’t install it. If you already have, uninstall it and run a security scan on your device. Don’t refer friends or family to keep a streak going or unlock a withdrawal. You’d just be pulling them into the same funnel. Check rewards in TikTok itself. TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program is for eligible creators and is managed through TikTok. If a separate website claims you can earn TikTok cash rewards through check-ins or simple tasks, don’t assume it’s part of the same program. Reward-mill scams like this aren’t unique to TikTok. The same check-in-and-cash-out formula appears with other brand names too. The name may change, but the trick is much the same: Keep you clicking with the promise that your money is just one more task away. Something feel off? Check it before you click. Malwarebytes Scam Guard helps you analyze suspicious links, texts, and screenshots instantly. Available with Malwarebytes Premium Security for all your devices, and in the Malwarebytes app for iOS and Android . Try it free → About the author Stefan Dasic Sr. Malware Research Engineer/Web Protection Technical Lead, ThreatLabs Passionate about antivirus solutions, Stefan has been involved in malware testing and AV product QA from an early age. As part of the Malwarebytes team, Stefan is dedicated to protecting customers and ensuring their security.