Job Scams
Job scams use the promise of flexible, well-paid, or remote work to draw people in. A 'recruiter' may message you out of the blue, offer a role with no real interview, and ask for personal documents, an upfront fee for equipment or training, or your bank details. Some schemes turn victims into unwitting money mules by asking them to receive and forward payments.
Common red flags
- A job offer with no real interview or with an interview only by text or chat app
- Pay that seems far too high for very simple tasks
- Requests for upfront payment for training, equipment, or a background check
- A recruiter who contacts you first on WhatsApp, Telegram, or text
- Requests for your bank details or to receive and forward money
Job scam guides
Fake Job Offer Scam
This scam offers a job with little or no interview, then asks for upfront fees, personal documents, or bank details to 'set you up.'
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
WhatsApp Job Scam
This scam contacts you on WhatsApp with an easy paid-task job, shows small early 'earnings,' then asks you to deposit money to unlock bigger payouts.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Remote Data Entry Job Scam
This scam advertises easy remote data entry work, then asks for upfront fees, personal documents, or bank details, or routes you into money handling.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Mystery Shopper Scam
This scam offers a fake secret or mystery shopper job, sends you a cheque to deposit, and asks you to 'evaluate' a money-transfer service by wiring most of it back or buying gift cards, after which the cheque bounces and you are left owing the money.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Reshipping Job Scam
This scam advertises a work-from-home 'package processing' or 'quality control' role where you receive parcels and reship them abroad, but the goods were bought with stolen cards, making you an unwitting money mule with real legal risk.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Car Wrap Scam
This scam offers to pay you for wrapping your car in advertising, then sends a check for more than agreed and asks you to forward part of it to a 'wrap installer'. The check later bounces, leaving you responsible for the money you sent on.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Envelope Stuffing Scam
This long-running scam promises easy money for stuffing envelopes at home, charges an upfront fee for a 'starter kit', then reveals the only way to earn is by recruiting others into the same scheme.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Virtual Assistant Job Scam
In this scam, a remote 'personal or virtual assistant' role offers good pay for simple tasks, then sends a fake cheque to buy supplies or gift cards and forward money, or asks for upfront fees or bank details, leaving you out of pocket.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Modeling Agency Scam
In this scam a 'scout' or agency contacts an aspiring model promising big opportunities, then asks for upfront payment for a portfolio, classes, registration, or a 'starter package'. The promised work rarely appears.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Pyramid Scheme Scam
This scam is pitched as a business opportunity, but income comes mainly from recruiting new members who each pay to join rather than from selling a real product, so most people near the bottom lose money.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Nanny Job Scam
This scam offers a well-paid nanny or caregiver role, then sends a cheque for more than agreed and asks you to forward the extra for 'supplies'; the cheque later bounces and you lose the money you sent.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Internship Scam
Fake internship scams advertise training placements, often aimed at students, that require an upfront fee for 'registration', 'training materials', or a 'placement guarantee'. Some instead collect personal documents and ID up front. After payment or document handover, the promised opportunity rarely materialises or has little real value.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Government Job Scam
Government job scams advertise guaranteed government or public-sector positions and charge fees for fake application processing, exams, or 'confirmed appointments'. Some instead collect ID documents for roles that do not exist. Genuine public-sector recruitment is advertised through official channels and never requires paying a middleman to secure a job.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Recruitment Agency Scam
A fake recruitment or staffing agency promises to place you in a job in exchange for an upfront registration, training or 'placement guarantee' fee. Some instead collect copies of your ID and bank details under the guise of onboarding. The roles are often non-existent or never materialise once payment is made. Legitimate recruiters are typically paid by the employer, not the candidate, and use official channels rather than demanding fees to apply.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Product Tester Scam
A product tester scam offers easy money or free products in return for testing and reviewing items. In reality, scammers may send a fake cheque and ask you to forward part of the funds, request that you buy goods and wire money back, or simply harvest your personal and bank details during 'sign-up'. The promised pay or free products usually never properly materialise, and you can be left covering bounced cheques or unauthorised charges.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Translation Job Scam
The translation job scam offers well-paid remote translation or transcription work for surprisingly simple tasks. Once you are interested, the role turns out to be a front for fraud. You may be sent a fake cheque to deposit and forward on, asked to pay for certification or special software, or pressured to hand over your ID and bank details for a job that does not exist. Genuine translation work pays you for your skills and never asks you to pay or move money first.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Assembly Job Scam
The assembly job scam promises easy money for assembling crafts, jewellery, or small products at home. To begin, you are asked to buy a starter kit or materials upfront. After you complete and return your work, the company claims it does not meet their quality standards and refuses to pay. The standards are often impossible to meet by design, so the real product being sold is the kit itself. Legitimate employers pay you for your work rather than charging you to start.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Online Task Job Scam
In this scam, you are offered easy paid 'tasks' like liking videos or rating products, shown small early earnings, then pressured to deposit your own money to unlock bigger commissions that you can never withdraw.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Money Mule Job Scam
This scam hires you as a 'payment processor', 'financial agent', or 'transfer assistant' to receive money into your account and forward it on, making you a money mule who launders the proceeds of fraud.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Background Check Fee Scam
This scam offers a job conditional on paying for a 'mandatory background check', 'screening', or 'credentialing' through a specific link or service, taking your fee and personal details for a role that does not exist.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Job Training Course Scam
This scam promises a guaranteed or high-paying job once you pay for a 'required' training course, certification, or starter kit, then provides little of value and no real job at the end.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Overseas Job Visa Scam
This scam offers attractive jobs abroad and demands fees for visas, work permits, flights, or placement, sometimes leaving victims out of pocket or stranded with no real job waiting.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Pet Sitting Job Scam
In this scam, you are hired as a pet sitter or dog walker without a real interview, sent a check for more than agreed to cover 'supplies' or the pet's transport, and asked to send the difference back before the check bounces.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Online Tutoring Job Scam
In this scam, a tutoring 'platform' or student recruiter offers easy online teaching work, then charges for required software, training, or registration, or sends a fake check for equipment and asks for money back.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medical Billing Job Scam
In this scam, a 'medical billing from home' opportunity sells you expensive software, training, or certification with the promise of ready clients and high income, but the clients and support never materialise.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Ad Posting Job Scam
In this scam, you are promised easy income for posting ads or links online, but you must first buy a 'starter kit' or membership, and the promised commissions never arrive or require recruiting others.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Social Media Manager Job Scam
In this scam, you are hired to manage a company's social media without a real interview, sent a check to cover 'ad spend' or tools, and asked to forward most of it to a vendor before the check bounces.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Remote Customer Service Job Scam
In this scam, you are hired for a remote customer service role and sent a check to buy a laptop and equipment from the employer's 'approved vendor', who is the scammer; the check bounces after you pay.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Airline Job Scam
In this scam, a fake airline or recruiter offers glamorous cabin crew or ground roles, then charges upfront for 'mandatory' training, uniforms, medicals, or visas for jobs that do not exist.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Oil Rig Job Scam
In this scam, a fake offshore or oil rig employer offers high-paying remote work, then demands upfront fees for travel, equipment, medicals, or 'contract processing' for jobs that do not exist, sometimes alongside romance manipulation.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Job Placement Service Scam
In this scam, a 'placement agency' or career service charges an upfront fee promising guaranteed job placement, exclusive openings, or interviews, then provides little of value and no real job.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Chat Operator Job Scam
In this scam, an online 'chat operator' or messaging job promises easy pay for chatting on dating or fan platforms, then withholds earnings behind targets, charges sign-up or software fees, or harvests your personal data.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Cleaning Job Scam
In this scam, you are hired as a cleaner or housekeeper without a real interview, sent a check to buy 'supplies' or covering more than agreed, and asked to send the difference to a supplier before the check bounces.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Focus Group Job Scam
In this scam, you are invited to a well-paid focus group or research panel, then either sent an overpayment check to buy 'materials' and asked to return the difference, or charged a registration fee for studies that never happen.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Notary Signing Agent Job Scam
In this scam, a notary or loan signing agent 'opportunity' charges upfront for certification, supplies, or background checks, or sends a fake check to buy equipment, with promised assignments that never come.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Truck Driver Job Scam
In this scam, a trucking or delivery-driver job offers high pay, then charges upfront for training, a licence, or 'orientation', or sends a fake check for equipment, for work that does not exist.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
UGC Creator Job Scam
In this scam, a 'brand' offers paid user-generated content work, then requires you to buy a starter pack or product upfront, or has you create content and never pays, sometimes harvesting your details.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Au Pair Scam
In this scam, a fake host family or agency offers an au pair placement abroad, then demands fees for visas, flights, or 'insurance', or sends an overpayment check, for a placement that does not exist.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Charity Fundraiser Job Scam
In this scam, a 'charity' recruits fundraisers to collect donations on its behalf, but the cause is fake or the operator pockets the money, charging recruits for materials or never paying promised commission.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Cruise Ship Job Scam
In this scam, a fake cruise line or recruiter offers well-paid shipboard jobs, then charges upfront for placement, medicals, visas, or training for roles that do not exist.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Nursing Recruitment Scam
In this scam, a fake healthcare recruiter offers nursing or care roles, often abroad, then charges upfront for registration, training, credential verification, or visas for jobs that do not exist.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Voiceover Gig Scam
In this scam, a fake client offers a paid voiceover or acting gig, then requires you to buy specific equipment or software, or sends an overpayment cheque and asks for the difference back before it bounces.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Bookkeeping Job Scam
In this scam, a remote bookkeeping or accounts role charges upfront for software or certification, or has you receive and forward client payments through your account, making you a money mule.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Mock Juror Job Scam
In this scam, you are 'hired' as a paid mock juror or online jury participant, sent a cheque for more than agreed to cover 'equipment' or fees, and asked to send the difference back before the cheque bounces.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Personal Driver Job Scam
In this scam, you are hired as a personal driver or chauffeur for a wealthy 'employer', sent a cheque to buy a vehicle, insurance, or supplies, and asked to forward most of it before the cheque bounces.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Photography Gig Scam
In this scam, a fake client books you for a photography or videography gig, sends a cheque for more than agreed to cover a venue, equipment, or a second vendor, and asks you to forward the difference before it bounces.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Personal Chef Job Scam
In this scam, a wealthy 'employer' hires you as a personal chef, sends a cheque for ingredients, equipment, or a deposit larger than agreed, and asks you to send the difference to a supplier before the cheque bounces.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Seasonal Retail Job Scam
In this scam, a fake seasonal or holiday temp job offers quick hiring, then charges for training, a uniform, or a background check, or sends an overpayment cheque for 'equipment' that you must partly send back.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Frequently asked questions
Should a real employer ever ask me to pay them?
Why would a job ask me to receive and send money?
How can I check if a job offer is real?
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