Short Task- Scam
95Is Short Task a Scam?
Yesterday, I came across a questionable website called,"ShortTask." The website claims to pay users for doing tasks or charges hosts for uploading tasks that need to be done for them. This article will be covering the task portion of the website.
The basic concept of the website is this. People upload tasks that need to be done and sets a reward price for whoever completes it. Once a host has verified that a someone has completed their task, they are paid. Once a solver has reached the 50 dollars, they are eligible for cashout via paypal. Although this may sound enticing, I will be explaining why one shouldn't join this website. After doing some in-depth research on the site, I found some negative feedback. One user complains of getting his account cancelled after reaching about 40 dollars. He spent about a month and a half of solving tasks, only to be scammed out of 40 bucks. Another user complains of not being credited for his tasks. He roughly completed 50 tasks but only received credit for about 5. The rules and policies of the site state that any host has the right to refuse to pay solvers. That means that no matter how well a solver completes his assigned task, there is a likelihood that he will not be credited.
I failed to find a review that provided definitive evidence proving ShortTask to be a scam so I decided to test it out myself. Upon joining the website, I jumped right into doing tasks. While looking through the extensive list of tasks, I noticed that almost every task paid less than the amount of effort you put in per task. For example, there are hundreds of tasks asking you to write a 500 word review on a certain website or product for a measly 20 cents. At that rate, you'll be making less money than sweatshop workers in 3rd world countries. After working for a solid 2 -3 hours, I decided to wait until the next morning when my earnings and submitted task would have updated. Of the 78 tasks I completed, 70 of them were accepted! Although the ratio of accepted to declined tasks were surprisingly high, my earnings total was incredibly low. I had about $1.23 in my account, averaging at about 2 cents a task. Even if I worked at this rate everyday for a month, I still wouldn't hit payout. Right now, I'm debating whether even all the tasks combined would hit the payout!
Although I am not sure of whether the site pays you upon reaching the $50 threshold, I am certain that it is not a site I want to spend time working on. The site can already be classified as a scam due to its horrible pay rates. If one averages at about 40 cents an hour, they can be making more money begging on the streets. The highest paying offers that I have seen on the sites are at about $1. These tasks are extremely difficult. Usually, they require you to write a review on a product or website, including specified keywords, vocabulary words, and references. The reviews then must be published on a forum or article website where it pends conformation from the host. If the host doesn't like it, well, sorry... that's an hour and a half down the drain.
The overall feel of the website is uncomfortable. The website has a basic interface which smells of cheap and the task submission process is very slow and complicated. There will always be a box to enter your username, email, and proof that you completed your task. This can be very irritating as providing evidence for your task is usually copying an entire review into the text-box.
I have noticed that this program is extremely similar to MTurk(Mechanical Turk). MTurk is a website run by Amazon.com where it has the same concept of ShortTask, except that it seems to be getting better reviews. There is only a $10 payout limit and the tasks pay a small fraction better. Although MTurk seems to be a legitimate version of ShortTask, I can most definitely conclude that both programs aren't worth your time.
People are better off working at more lucrative pay sites such as Treasure Trooper. Happy Earnings!
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Comments
Thanks for this great review about the site.
thank you very much. I joined today and i came to know this its scam thanks once again keep going it helps people like me
Its is very bad review by you. I am have been working with short task since last five months and I have been paid regularly. I have done tasks that were of $10 also. If any one of you wanted to see a payment proff then you can mail me at mohdilyas4u@gmail.com and I will send you the screenshot of the payment I received thru paypal.
Its really strange how people post this type of articles.
Anyways invest in good article writers who do research before posting.
Have a nice day.
God will surely bless you for the review, because i was about registering when i saw your Hub, God will give definitely judge them for what they are doing scammimg people with their site. I will love to tell you that you can make money online, not thinking of writing, advertising or even been worried about traffic, the only thinh you need to do is to just look how much you have earned. learn this secret at : http://hubpages.com/hub/Making-money-online-withou
Hmm...interesting. Although I don't think that Short Task is a scam for sure, but the pay rates do appear rather low to be worth it. One question: Is there a rating system? Otherwise, the site can be very easily abused by people to get work done for free. :)
hi guys, thanks for all the helpful are supportive comments
@Mohd IIyas, im sorry you don't agree with my article. I might have a different experience than you seeing as though you are quite successful. However, I do ask that next time you comment on someones work, you should be more polite. I took time to write this article to help people understand how short task works. I took time to inform MY OPINIONS about it. to call my writing bad and done without research is just....shallow.
The best review of this site is at http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/467/RipOff04 It is an absolute scam. I doubt that the post by Mohd above is legit. Short Task is designed to pay people to promote and advance all sites owned by A Harrison Barnes. I've looked at the site a few times and never saw a task that paid more than $3.00 and that was once. Most tasks just pay a few cents. Reaed the review at the link above.
The link in my post was truncated. The full link is http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/467/RipOff04
I have been going to Shorttask for a couple of days now and have seen one task for $125, one for $50, and I think a couple for $20. These tasks usually asked for the Solver to find a large amount of resumes online and send them to the Seeker but are only available for one person. The cheaper tasks ($0.20, $0.10, $0.05) usually have anywhere from 20-70 spaces available for solver, but are not worth the effort. In the few days i've been on the site I've only made $0.15 so I might give up on it.
Koran-Do you remember the name of the person who requested to search for resumes? That is a very strang request and it sound like something A. Harrison Barnes would do to bulk up on his spaming.
I joined short task today only after reading a hub here. But now I am really confuses after reading your hub as whether it is legitimate or scam?
People who have been paid from ST, please make a payment proof and post links here. Or if u got real proof that it's scam, please do make that too available so that newbies and others won't be mislead.....
hi all
donno about what u feel but let me tell u that i hav got 42.28$ today after i redeemed them.
666666666666
Law Student Jobs
big scam shorttask is a big scam?i sure
Akarsh - How did you receive $42 after redeeming when the minimum redemption is $50? Or did Shorttask and Harrison Branes just pay you to lie?
STAY AWAY FROM SHORTTASK!!! That is unless you want to waste time doing tasks that will waste your time and push you to the limits of your patience or if you are happy locking yourself away from the world and family for weeks while trying to reach an impossible $50 payout. It's so not worth it.
I wonder how Akarsh got paid out before the $50 threshold. If Akresh is reading this and knows how to get around the $50 minimum for payout please let us know how you did it.
I am with ShortTask since 20 days and so far I dont see any issues with this site. You go there you find tasks and work on it if it suites to you. Also they have reduced the minimum withdraw limit to $20 now. I have just redeemed my $22.30 and I got my payment directly in my PayPal account within 24 hrs after I requested.
Nice hub I noticed all the Pro Short task users Don't seem to have a hub page Delete them If they are Afraid to give a true Identity I bet they are all from the same IP address. I seen this Site and all I can make of it is click fraud and people asking you to Register at other sites. Now I do not mind only getting 5 cent to Digg a page or put it on mixx because thats worth 5 cents a Digg maybe a comment but what the hell do you get for 5 cents in any country
For anyone interested in filing more effective complaints against any of A. Harrison Barnes’s companies or interested in a potential class action lawsuit, please refer your comments to consumeraffairs.com. Each complaint is thoroughly reviewed by staff including attorneys specializing in class actions. A complaint form may be found at http://www.consumeraffairs.com/php/a_report.php and their position on class action review may be found at http://www.consumeraffairs.com/class_actions/. Consumer Affairs is a legitimate organization that does not seek a fee from anyone who files a complaint.
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yes of course Short Task is SCAM my friends did not received his money yet
Well, right now, the minimum payout is $10. I joined Short Task a couple of months ago but I rarely visit the site to complete tasks. Let's see if they pay once I earn $10.
One thing I agree is that both Mturk and Short Task rates are very very low.
People who earn cash through ShortTask by receiving payment will now be required to disclose that they have been paid to post positive comments about companies (particularly those owned by A. Harrison Barnes such as Employmentcrossing, Lawcrosing and Hound) or face up to an $11,000 fine per violation. This according to an FTC ruling that deems such activities as endorsements and considers a failue to disclose payments as consumer fraud and deception.
I received my payment from Shortask.com amount of $13 staright to my paypal account two days ago. Shorttask.com has reduced their payment threshold to $10.
hi. i finished 2 tasks with shorttask worth $25.. after 4 days i received my earnings. but, (this is the scam part) when i transferred my money to my paypal account,payment never reflected!!! i waited for days, still no payment has been transferred to my paypal!!!
hi. i finished 2 tasks with shorttask worth $25.. after 4 days i received my earnings. but, (this is the scam part) when i transferred my money to my paypal account,payment never reflected!!! i waited for days, still no payment has been transferred to my paypal!!!
Here is why you didn't get paid. Shorttask's Participation Agreement says: "We reserve the right to terminate or suspend any Escrow Account, or to delay the availability of any Prepaid TASKs, transfer or disbursement of any amounts, in each case for any reason in our sole discretion."
Translation - Shorttask may or may not pay you at our sole discretion. What a crock!
Hi all, Short task is not a scam. It is not worth it for those of us that live in the civilized world but there are tasks on there that pay a few dollars but it is usually not worth it for most of us to do.
Most of the people that work on short task live in the Philippines or in India. If you are a middle class person in the Philippines you will make about 5000 pesos a month. at the current rate that is about $150.00 US dollars. You won't live like a king but you will have a roof over your head, food and running water. To them, this is a valuable service.
I set up subscription web sites and I have used short task successfully. I usually ask 5 or 6 people to go to a website, click a banner and sign up. the proof is the success page URL. this takes about 1 or 2 minutes and I usually pay 25 to 50 cents. this is enough for me to tell if it is working.
Frankly, I think it is a win win. I know I am not paying a lot but to the people in 3rd world countries, I am paying a lot. the 13 peso that person in the Philippines earned from me for a few minutes work just bought them a loaf of bread.
It may not be worth it to YOU but believe me, if the site is still running (and it is) then the jobs are worth it to someone.
To Jimmy B - I think a lot of the issues that people have with Shorttask is that it is mostly used by Harrison Barnes to bolster his other weak companies with false paid-for statements about how great his companies are while the rest of the word on the street is that his companies are atrocities. If you and a few others can piggy-back and get some legitimate benefit then that is great. It just seems like the real purpose of the company is to promote false marketing and that is something that people shoul dunderstand.
SJKIM1995, thank you for your hub. I've been a Turker for awhile and know that it is reputable and reliable. Shorttask.com was created by someone who got banned from Mechanical Turk for violating its policies. When I discovered shorttask.com, I was suspicious because it's a complete rip-off of MTurk's design. No reputable company would copy cat another website's layout. I recommend everyone go to Mechanical Turk for work of this nature. It is true that the pay can be low, but for transcription and well-paying academic studies, it's not hard to pull in over $100 a month, plus it's fun. Kind Regards
@SJKIM1995
Hi, thanks for the review.. I was thinking of researching first about short task so I could recommend it to my readers since my blog is all about earning online. You just saved me a lot of time. =)
@Jimmy B (PLEASE READ THIS)
I'm pretty sure you didn't mean to insult anyone from the Philippines, but let me tell you this..you just did! I live in the Philippines and people that belong to the middle class won't survive for just 5000 pesos or $150!!! I find that too insulting. That kind of amount is just for paying up a rent, a small space to be specific. Unless you are referring to people who belong to class D or lower.
So before you keep insisting that people from my country is somewhat thankful already for the very very low pay rate that you suggest.. I'm sorry but $150 won't provide any of us here in my country with proper shelter, food and water for that amount.
I think the real problem here, is with people who abuse other people who live in 3rd world countries. We may not live in the US or other well-developed countries, but that doesn't mean we are under qualified to do tasks properly and efficiently. A lot of people take advantage of others who are desperately looking for ways to earn. What a shame!!
Anyway, I'm not even sure where the heck you live, I'm even guessing you're from the same country as mine cause you keep calculating things in pesos!!?!?! It doesn't matter really, just want to clear things up for my fellow countrymen.. so others won't think that paying us cents is already great for us. We are very hard workers and we also deserve to be paid rightly.
Eve
Thank you for the information about SHORT TASK. I think many people will be benefited from this.
SJKIM1995 says:
6 months ago
im glad to hear your success with shortask, however, i do feel that the site does have some major issues that need to be fixed
i find it strange that you have found 2 dollar tasks only using 15 per task because the only high paying tasks ive seen go up to abotu 75 cents and require a 500 word review