Fake job offer scams
Job offer scams use fake job postings or unsolicited recruiter messages to steal personal information, upfront fees, or trick victims into laundering stolen money, and reports to U.S. and UK fraud agencies have risen significantly alongside growth in remote work recruiting.
What we know
Job offer scams take several common forms, all exploiting the legitimate rise of remote hiring and recruiting conducted primarily through email, text, and messaging apps rather than in-person interviews. In one common pattern, scammers post fake job listings on legitimate job boards or contact targets directly, often via text message, claiming to represent a real, well known company, and offer a position with unusually high pay for minimal qualifications or experience, a red flag according to Federal Trade Commission guidance on this fraud category.
A frequently reported variant involves the fraudulent employer sending the victim a check, often for a large amount, to purportedly cover home office equipment or supplies, then instructing the victim to deposit the check and immediately send a portion of the funds to a third party or back to the employer for equipment purchase. Because bank holds on deposited checks can take days to fully clear while funds may appear available sooner, the victim who forwards money believing the check has cleared later discovers the original check was fraudulent, leaving them liable for the full amount they already sent out, a mechanism the FTC has described in detail in its consumer alerts on employment scams.
Another variant, closely related to money laundering, recruits victims for supposed remote positions such as payment processing agent or mystery shopper, and directs them to receive money into their personal bank account and forward it elsewhere, unknowingly making the victim a party to moving stolen or fraudulently obtained funds, which can expose them to legal risk even though they believed they were performing a legitimate job.
A further common pattern involves scammers requesting extensive personal information, including Social Security numbers, bank account details, or a copy of a driver's license, framed as necessary for standard background checks or payroll setup, but used instead for identity theft. Some scams also request an upfront payment for supposed training materials, equipment, or certification fees before the job can begin, a request legitimate employers do not typically make of new hires.
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has tracked a sustained rise in employment fraud reports over recent years, and the shift toward widespread remote work following the COVID-19 pandemic has been cited by both the FBI and the Better Business Bureau as a contributing factor, since remote hiring processes conducted entirely over text and email make it easier for scammers to impersonate legitimate recruiters without needing an in-person meeting to maintain the deception.
Consumer protection guidance from the FTC and Better Business Bureau recommends researching a company independently before responding to a job offer, being wary of interviews conducted entirely over text message or through unofficial chat apps rather than a company's official communication channels, never depositing a check from an employer and sending part of it back or elsewhere, and never paying money upfront for a job, equipment, or training, since legitimate employers cover these costs themselves rather than billing new employees before their first paycheck.
Common claims
- Paying a fee to secure a job or training is normalFalse - legitimate employers never require payment
- Jobs found on major platforms are always legitimateFalse - scammers post fake listings on Indeed, LinkedIn, and other major sites
- Depositing a check from a new employer before starting is fineFalse - fake check scam; bank holds you responsible when the check bounces