Job scams

Is this job offer a scam?

Quick answer

Quite possibly. Common red flags: high pay for unskilled work, no real interview, hiring you after one short chat, asking you to pay for 'equipment' or training, or sending you a check to deposit and forward. Real employers don't operate this way.

Red flags to look for

1
Hired after one short text/chat — no real interview
2
Pay seems unusually high for the described work
3
Asks you to deposit a check and forward part of it
4
Requires upfront payment for equipment, software, training, or 'certification'
5
Job posting on LinkedIn-lookalike sites or unfamiliar boards
6
Email from gmail.com or other free domain, not the company domain

Real examples

Congratulations! You've been hired as a Remote Personal Assistant at $40/hour. To start, we'll send you a $3,500 check — deposit it and use it to buy equipment from this approved vendor: [link]. Send remaining funds via Zelle.

Likely Scam

Real employers don't send checks and ask you to forward portions. The check is fake or stolen — it'll bounce after you've sent real money to the 'vendor' (the scammer).

What to do

Never deposit a check from a new employer and forward the funds.
Verify the company by going to their real website directly (not via the recruiter's link).
Search '[Company name] scam' or '[Company name] reviews' before accepting.
Refuse to pay any upfront fee for equipment, training, or certification.
Report fake jobs to the platform where you saw them and at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

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Why scammers use this approach

Job seekers are vulnerable — they're motivated to believe in opportunity, and many are financially stressed. The check-and-forward variant is a particularly cruel form of check fraud that converts the victim into an unwitting money mule.

Frequently asked questions

What if the company name is real?

Scammers often impersonate real companies. Always verify by going to the company's website directly and contacting their HR or careers department through public channels.