Weirdest scam I've came across

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share my experience and get your thoughts, because I think I might be dealing with a scam – but there’s a strange twist.

I was recently contacted by someone claiming to be from Toptal, a well-known platform for remote freelance jobs. Everything seemed quite professional at first, and I went through a series of tasks they asked me to complete.

After a few tasks, they actually sent me $25, which made it seem legit in crypto, I even received it in my account, so I thought maybe this was just a small gig/test before more serious work.

But then, after building that trust, they asked me for a €50 "security fee" to continue. That immediately raised red flags. I thought Toptal was a legit platform that doesn’t charge applicants, especially not upfront fees.

So now I’m confused:

• If it’s a scam, why did they give me $25?
• Are they just trying to build trust to steal more later?
• Has anyone else encountered this variation?

Any advice or similar stories would be appreciated. I haven’t paid the €50 yet, and I don’t plan to unless I get solid confirmation this is somehow legit (which I doubt).

Thanks in advance!