I've been applying for remote jobs and got a message offering me a data entry position after a short text chat, no real interview. They want to send me a check to buy equipment from their 'vendor'. It sounds too easy, but I really need the job. How do I tell if a job offer is a scam?
How do I spot a fake job offer scam?
Concerns & risks
You're job hunting, an offer arrived quickly with little vetting, and something about the payment or equipment request feels off.
| Legit employer | Scam |
|---|---|
| Interviews you properly | Hires after a text chat |
| Provides equipment or reimburses after purchase from known vendors | Sends a check to forward |
| Uses company email domain | Uses personal email or messaging apps |
| Asks for SSN at formal onboarding | Asks for SSN upfront |
Causes & evidence
The FTC warns that job scammers often advertise where real employers do and then ask for money or personal information. Common signs include offers without a real interview, requests to pay for training or equipment, and the fake check scam: they send a check, ask you to buy equipment or send money to a 'vendor', and the check later bounces, leaving you responsible. Scammers also collect Social Security and bank details for identity theft recovery problems later. Real employers don't ask you to pay to get a job or move money for them.
The FTC reports job scam losses have grown sharply in recent years. Scammers also impersonate real companies, so verifying through official channels is key.
Depositing a check from a new 'employer' and sending part of it onward is how most people lose money in job scams.
What to do
| Red flag | Safer move |
|---|---|
| Offer after text-only chat, no interview | Ask for a video or in-person interview |
| You're asked to pay for training or equipment | Decline; real employers don't charge |
| They send a check and ask you to forward money | Never send money back; checks can bounce later |
| Request for SSN or bank info before an offer letter | Verify the company first |
| Pressure to act fast | Slow down and research |
- Look up the company independently and contact it through its official website.
- Search the company name plus words like scam or complaint.
- Never deposit a check and forward money to anyone.
- Share SSN and bank details only after a verified written offer through official HR.
- Report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Common mistakes:
- Trusting a recruiter's personal email or messaging app
- Paying upfront for 'training'
- Assuming a check that clears is real
ReportSpeedMan tip: Banks can make deposited funds available before a check fully clears, so 'it cleared' doesn't prove the check is good.
What I would actually do
verify every offer through the company's official careers page, refuse any check-and-forward request and report suspicious ones.
The trade-off people miss: scam offers often look polished, with logos and offer letters; polish isn't proof.
Proof that it worked
Every offer you pursue is verified through official company channels and no money left your account.
Quick FAQ
Is a text job offer ever real?
Rarely if unsolicited; verify independently.
I deposited a fake check. Now what?
Contact your bank immediately.
Where do I report?
ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general.
Wrap-up: If an offer asks you to pay, forward money or skip the interview, walk away and report it. Real jobs don't work that way.
Wiki: Phishing.
How do I spot a fake job offer scam: official sources I checked
Step-by-step photos
1. Before The problem 
2. Why it happens The cause 
3. The fix The fix 
4. After The result
⚡ Speed Summary
- If an offer asks you to pay, forward money or skip the interview, walk away and report it.
- Banks can make deposited funds available before a check fully clears, so 'it cleared' doesn't prove the check is good.
- Depositing a check from a new 'employer' and sending part of it onward is how most people lose money in job scams.
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