Work-From-Home Job Scams
Remote work is real, and so are fake remote jobs. How work-from-home scams use equipment fees, reshipping, fake cheques and data-entry schemes, and how to find genuine remote work safely.
Working from home is now normal for millions of people, which makes fake remote jobs easy to disguise. Scammers advertise on job boards, social media and messaging apps, or contact you directly after seeing your CV. The jobs sound flexible and well paid. The catch comes after you are "hired".
The most common work-from-home scams
| Scam | How it works |
|---|---|
| Equipment fee | You must buy a laptop, software or a "starter kit" from their supplier before you start. |
| Fake cheque | They send a cheque to cover equipment and ask you to pay their vendor. The cheque later bounces. See overpayment and fake cheque scams. |
| Reshipping | You receive parcels and forward them abroad. The goods are bought with stolen cards. |
| Payment processing | You receive money into your account and pass it on. This is money mule activity. See money mule recruitment. |
| Data entry or typing | You pay for training or registration, then work is rejected so you are never paid. |
| Tasks and reviews | Paid to like videos or rate products, until deposits are required. See task scams. |
| Mystery shopping | You "evaluate" a money transfer or gift card service by sending money to them. |
Legitimate employers pay you. They do not ask you to pay them, or to move money or parcels for them through your own account and address.
Illustrative example
- Hired after a text-only interview.
- A cheque from the employer, and a request to send part of it on to a "vendor".
- Urgency before a start date.
How to spot a fake remote job
- You were offered the job without a real interview, or only by chat.
- The pay is high for simple work, with no experience needed.
- The company cannot be verified, or uses a free email address.
- You must pay for anything upfront, or move money or goods.
- They ask for bank login details, ID documents or your tax number before a contract exists.
How to find genuine remote work safely
- Apply through the company's official careers page, which you find yourself.
- Verify the company and the recruiter. See how to verify a job offer.
- Expect a real interview, usually by video, with named people you can look up.
- Get a written contract before sharing sensitive personal details.
- Never pay for equipment, training or registration, and never move money for an employer.
If you have been caught
- Paid money: contact your bank or payment provider immediately.
- Deposited a cheque: tell your bank before spending or sending any of it.
- Received parcels or money: stop, do not forward anything, and report it to the police and your bank.
- Shared ID: watch for identity fraud.
Received a remote job offer? Paste it into CyberWatch AI Scan for a free check.
For more job scam warning signs, see fake job offer scams. For the full picture, read how to spot online scams.
Frequently asked questions
Are all work-from-home jobs scams?
No. Many employers hire remotely. But genuine employers interview properly, give you a written contract, and do not ask you to pay for equipment, training or software upfront.
What is a reshipping scam?
You are hired to receive parcels at home and forward them abroad. The goods were usually bought with stolen cards, which can make you part of the crime, and you are rarely paid.
They sent a cheque to buy equipment. Is that normal?
It is a classic scam. The cheque bounces after you have sent money to their 'supplier', and you are left owing the full amount to your bank.
Sources
- Job Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
- How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Fake Check Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
- Mystery Shopping Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
