I Fell for a Web3 Job Scam from an AI Gaming Company

Web3 moves fast, and so do new crypto pitches. A fake job can look polished, timely, and aligned with your skill set. That mix is exactly what almost pulled me into a Web3 job scam from an AI gaming company.

This is how a promising marketing role turned into a wake-up call about trust, due diligence, and online safety. If you work in digital marketing or tech, consider this a useful field report.

A DM on X that Looked Legit

It began with a DM on X, formerly Twitter. A recruiter reached out about a digital marketing role for an AI gaming company building in Web3, suggesting we move to Slack for more details on the hiring process.

Their profile looked real, much like those of fake recruiters who craft convincing online personas. The posts covered blockchain, AI, and gaming. The followers seemed active and relevant in tech.

The pitch felt tailored. The project was an AI-powered gaming ecosystem, and the role touched content marketing, SEO, and growth. It matched my background and interests perfectly.

The Interview Felt Solid

I agreed to interview. The call felt professional and detailed. We covered marketing strategy, user acquisition, and SEO for the AI gaming platform and SaaS.

They asked smart questions. I shared frameworks, channels I would prioritize, and metrics for growth. Nothing felt off at this point.

A few days later, I got a message that I passed the job interview. The next step was onboarding through Slack. I joined the workspace and prepared to ramp up.

The First Red Flag

Then the onboarding instructions arrived. Step one: install their gaming software as part of the setup.

The download triggered an antivirus alert. My security software flagged the file as malware, then blocked it. The recruiter told me to disable my antivirus and try again.

That stopped me cold. No legitimate company asks you to turn off security tools, especially in what was starting to feel like a scam operation. I raised the issue in Slack and was told the tech team would help.

I waited. A day passed, then two. A week later, still nothing.

Silence, Then Vanishing Acts

I followed up in the channel. No reply. The workspace, once active, went quiet.

I checked the recruiter’s X profile to follow up directly. It was gone. Deactivated.

At that point, it clicked. This was a Web3 job scam. The goal was to get me to install unsafe software during onboarding, which carried a serious risk of data theft.

What This Experience Taught Me

This imposter scam relied on sophisticated social engineering to make everything about the approach convincing. The tone, the structure, the interview, and the community signals. That is what made it dangerous.

Here is what I learned from the near miss:

• Verify the company early. Visit the website, check domain records, and search for press mentions. Cross-check founders and team members on LinkedIn.

• Never disable your antivirus or firewall. No real employer requires that for onboarding.

• Avoid installing unknown software. If a company needs you to run an app, ask for a signed build, documentation, and a secure download source.

• Ask for official email and contracts. Move the conversation to verified company domains, not only DMs.

• Watch for silence after urgency. Scammers push you to act fast, then go quiet when questioned.

• Trust your gut when something feels off. A small doubt can signal a big problem.

How Web3 Job Scams Work

Crypto job scams, often disguised as legitimate Web3 opportunities, rely on buzzwords and social proof to build trust quickly.

Scammers reference blockchain, AI, and gaming, then showcase familiar tools and roles to make the pitch feel normal, which lowers your guard. These fraud mechanisms can link to broader schemes, such as a crypto mining scam disguised as a job perk or escalating into a pig butchering scam as the endgame.

Common patterns to watch:

• Polished recruiter profiles on X, Telegram, or WhatsApp, with industry followers.

• Interviews that feel legitimate but stay surface-level on the product.

• Onboarding through Slack or Discord with friendly team members.

• Requests to install a proprietary app, connect a crypto wallet, or use a launcher.

• Urgent instructions to disable antivirus, change device settings, or access a fraudulent platform.

• The risk of being diverted to a fraudulent trading platform for “investment” verification.

• Vanishing profiles or disconnected domains once you push back.

A Simple Due Diligence Checklist

You do not need hours of research to spot most Web3 job scams, including malicious job offers. Use this quick workflow before you share documents or install anything:

1. Company search

• Check the website, domain age, and SSL.

• Look for a real team page with founders and roles.

• Search the brand name plus “scam,” “reviews,” and “funding.”

2. People checks

• Verify recruiters and team members on LinkedIn.

• Look for shared connections or real work history.

• Compare names and photos across platforms.

3. Product review

• Ask for a live demo or public build of their platform.

• Request documentation, security notes, and release notes.

• Check GitHub or a changelog if they claim to build in public.

4. Process and paperwork

• Ask for a contract, NDA, or offer via company email.

• Request a company Zoom or Google Meet from official domains.

• Seek legal details like a company number for LLC or LTD entities.

• Be cautious about any requests involving transferring funds, as legitimate processes won’t require upfront payments from you.

• Watch for unexpected requests for tax information, which could signal an attempt to steal your identity.

5. Security guardrails

• Never disable antivirus or firewall.

• Avoid running unsigned installers or scripts.

• Test files on a spare device or VM, not your main machine.

Why This Matters for Marketers and Tech Pros

Marketers and growth roles often get early access to tools. That makes us a target and potential victim. We install apps, connect analytics, and sync accounts. A single unsafe install can compromise devices, passwords, and crypto client work.

The cost of a mistake is high for professionals like us:

• Data Theft or ransomware.

• Compromised email or ad accounts.

• Damaged reputation with clients.

The fix is simple but strict. Do your checks, follow security basics, and slow down when a request feels odd. Speed is good in startups, but never at the cost of safety.

What I’d Do Differently Next Time

To optimize the vetting process in the hiring process and avoid fake job offers, if I receive a similar pitch, I will change my sequence:

• Verify the company before any interview.

• Move all hiring communication to a verified company email.

• Ask for a public product link or demo recording.

• Refuse to install private software on a primary device.

• Require a clear job description and contract before onboarding.

These steps add minutes, not hours, and prevent big problems.

Signs of a Real Web3 Job Opportunity

For Web3 job seekers, not every Crypto job is fake. Many teams are building real products and need real marketing help.

Here are green flags that help you spot legitimate opportunities:

• A company domain with verified emails.

• Public product updates, GitHub activity, or a changelog.

• Founders with real histories and references.

• Clear role scope, KPIs, and reporting lines.

• A clean, signed offer and documented onboarding.

Reflection

This experience was a reminder to slow down. Hype can mask risk, and offers that seem too good to be true often signal deeper dangers. A fake Web3 job can look credible, even to seasoned pros, but it’s frequently a gateway to an investment scam.

Authentic opportunities stand up to scrutiny. They welcome questions, share documentation, and protect your security. If a company resists those basics, walk away. Such schemes are commonly tied to financial fraud designed to exploit your trust.

I was lucky to pause before installing anything. Not everyone gets that second chance.

Final Thoughts

Web3 job scams are getting smarter, and they target skilled people who want to work on the next big thing.

This scam often lures you into a fraudulent trading platform, where the real dangers emerge. Stay curious, but verify every step to avoid becoming a victim.

Before you accept the next remote role, research, ask for proof, and keep your security rules non-negotiable, especially if they request you to pay to complete job tasks.

Your caution today can save your data, your devices, your career, and your funds from being drained through a fraudulent trading platform. Remember, using such a service means you’ll likely face issues processing a withdrawal later on.

If you take one thing from this story, let it be this: a real company will never ask you to trade safety for speed, as this job setup could be the beginning of a pig butchering scam. That single filter can help you avoid the next fake Web3 job.