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Remote Job Scams: Red Flags and a 5-Minute Check Before You Say Yes
When you badly need money, a fast, easy job offer can feel like a lifeline. Scammers know that. Use this page to check any job offer before you share personal information or send a single dollar.
Source: FTC Data Spotlight, December 2024.
Check any job offer in 5 minutes
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- Did you apply for it? An unexpected text, WhatsApp or Telegram message about a job is a warning sign. The FTC advises ignoring them.
- Is the job described clearly? Real ads name the company, the job title, the duties and the pay. Vague offers with no details are a red flag.
- Search the company name plus “scam” or “complaint.” Read what others report before you reply.
- Find the company’s real website yourself (do not use the link in the message) and look for the job on its careers page.
- Check the email address. A recruiter from a real company usually writes from that company’s domain, not a free email account.
- Ask someone you trust. The FTC suggests talking it over with a friend or family member before you accept.
- Money test: if any step asks you to pay, deposit a check and send money back, or buy gift cards or crypto, stop.
9 red flags of a job scam
| Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| You must pay for training, certification, software or a starter kit | Real employers do not charge you to work. This is the FTC’s top warning sign. |
| They send you a check and ask you to send part of it back | The check is fake. When the bank finds out, you owe the bank the full amount. |
| “Make thousands a month with little time or effort” | The FTC says big pay for little work is almost certainly a scam. |
| An unexpected job offer by text, WhatsApp or Telegram | The FTC warns scammers pose as recruiters from real companies. |
| You are paid to “like” videos or rate products in an app | This is a task scam. Early small payouts build trust before they ask you to deposit money. |
| You must deposit money to “unlock” or withdraw your earnings | The earnings are not real. Money you deposit will not come back. |
| You are asked to reship packages or resell merchandise | Reshipping jobs often move stolen goods, and you may never be paid. |
| Hired after a chat-only “interview” with no video or phone call | Legitimate hiring usually includes a real conversation and a written offer. |
| They want your bank login, card number or Social Security number before any offer | Identity thieves collect these. Share your SSN only for a verified job, usually at hiring for tax and I-9 forms. |
Sources: FTC, Job Scams; FTC, Fake Check Scams; FTC, That job offer text is probably a scam; FTC Data Spotlight, Paying to get paid.
The 3 most common job scams, explained
1. The fake check scam
You get a “first paycheck” or an “equipment check” for more than you are owed and are told to deposit it and send the extra back by gift card, wire or crypto. By law, banks must make deposited funds available quickly, but that does not mean the check is good. The FTC explains that a fake check can take weeks to be discovered, and when it bounces, you are responsible for the whole amount.
2. The task scam
A message offers easy online work. In an app, you “like” videos or rate products in sets of tasks and see commissions build up. You may even get a small payout. Then you are told to deposit your own money to finish the next set or withdraw your earnings. The FTC says that money is not real, and if you deposit money, you will not get it back.
3. The pay-to-start scam
You are “hired” quickly, then asked to pay for training, a certification, software or a home office kit before you can begin, often with a promise of reimbursement. Real employers cover the cost of what they require.
- Stop replying to the scammer.
- Call your bank, card company or the payment service you used (gift card company, wire service, crypto exchange) and ask them to reverse or stop the payment.
- If you shared your Social Security number or bank details, go to IdentityTheft.gov (run by the FTC) for a step-by-step recovery plan.
- Report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general.
Where to look for real jobs instead
Our step-by-step guide, How to Get a Job With No Experience, lists trusted places to search, including government job sites such as USAJOBS.gov and usps.com/employment, and free help at American Job Centers.
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Frequently asked questions
Is it ever normal to pay for a job?
No. The FTC says never pay to get a job or to get paid. Real employers do not charge for the job, training or required equipment.
The check cleared in my account. Is it safe to send money back?
No. Banks must make deposited funds available quickly, but a fake check can take weeks to be discovered. When it bounces, you owe the bank the full amount, according to the FTC.
Do real companies recruit by text message?
The FTC warns that scammers send generic, unexpected job texts and messages posing as recruiters from real companies, and advises ignoring them. Find the job on the company’s own website instead.
Where do I report a job scam?
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general. If you shared personal information, use IdentityTheft.gov.
General information, not legal advice. Figures are from the FTC as reported for the periods shown.