High riskJob

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.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Fake cheque / overpayment (job)
Main red flag
A mock juror job that sends an overpayment cheque and asks you to return the difference.
What to do first
Do not move any money; a cheque can bounce days after appearing to clear.

Understanding this 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.

Job and employment scams exploit hope and momentum with an easy "hire", work-from-home promises, and tasks that supposedly pay commission. The tell is the direction money flows: real employers pay you, while scams get you to pay in for training, equipment, or to "unlock" earnings, or to hand over bank and ID details.

If you take one thing from this guide, make it this: A mock juror job that sends an overpayment cheque and asks you to return the difference. Do not move any money; a cheque can bounce days after appearing to clear.

If your message looks slightly different, check the Focus Group Job Scam or the Mystery Shopper Scam, both are close cousins of this pattern. Every related guide lives in the Job Scams guides, and the scam checker can scan the text you received.

A typical example

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Welcome, mock juror! We've sent a $1,800 cheque for equipment. Keep your fee and send $1,400 to our coordinator.'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

The tell here: A mock juror job that sends an overpayment cheque and asks you to return the difference.

What the data shows

Fast-growing
business and job-opportunity scams are among the fastest-growing fraud types reported to the FTC
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
$10.3B
total reported US fraud losses in 2023 across all categories
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Warning signs

  • Being hired with no real process
  • An overpayment cheque with money to send back
  • A request to forward funds to a 'coordinator'
  • Payment of the balance by gift card or transfer
  • Pressure to act before the cheque 'expires'

Your safest response

  • Do not move money until a cheque has fully cleared
  • Confirm with your bank that funds are truly settled
  • Verify any research or court program independently
  • Report the scheme to your bank and authorities

If you have already engaged

  • If you sent money, contact your bank immediately to try to stop it
  • Expect the cheque to be reversed, leaving you liable
  • Keep the cheque and messages as evidence
  • Report the scheme

What to avoid

  • Do not send money from funds only showing as 'available'
  • Do not forward funds for a 'coordinator'
  • Do not trust a job with no real process

You might also see

Medium risk Job

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
High risk Job

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
High risk Bank & Payment

Overpayment Scam

A buyer, employer, or 'client' sends you a payment or cheque for more than they owe, then asks you to send the extra back. The original payment is fake or is later reversed, leaving you out of pocket for the refund you sent.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Questions people ask

Are paid mock juror jobs real?
Some legitimate research exists, but it does not send overpayment cheques to forward. An overpayment with a request to return funds is a fake-cheque scam.
How do I know a cheque cleared?
Ask your bank specifically whether funds have fully settled, and wait until you are certain before moving any money.
I sent the coordinator money. What now?
Contact your bank immediately, keep your evidence, and report it; the cheque will likely be reversed.
How do I find genuine research work?
Use reputable, verifiable research companies, and never accept overpayment cheques or forward funds.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.