High riskJob

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.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Fake check / advance-fee (job)
Main red flag
A remote job sends a check to buy equipment from their 'approved vendor'.
What to do first
Do not buy equipment from a vendor the employer insists on; verify the job first.

What this scam usually looks like

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.

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.

The single clearest warning sign to remember is this: A remote job sends a check to buy equipment from their 'approved vendor'. Do not buy equipment from a vendor the employer insists on; verify the job first.

Not sure this matches what you received? Compare it with the Virtual Assistant Job Scam or the Background Check Fee Scam, browse the Job Scams guides, or paste the exact message into our free scam checker.

By the numbers

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

Example message pattern

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Congrats on the role! Deposit this $1,900 check and order your work laptop from our approved vendor at this link. Send confirmation once paid.'

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.

Why this is a red flag: A remote job sends a check to buy equipment from their 'approved vendor'.

Red flags to watch for

  • A check to buy equipment from a specified vendor
  • Being hired quickly with little or no interview
  • Pressure to pay the vendor before the check clears
  • Contact mainly through chat apps
  • A vendor link or account you cannot verify

What to do

  • Do not pay any vendor until a check has fully cleared
  • Verify the employer through official channels
  • Be wary of jobs that require buying from a specific vendor
  • Report the scheme to your bank and authorities

If you already clicked or replied

  • If you paid the vendor, contact your bank immediately
  • Expect the check to be reversed, leaving you out of pocket
  • Keep the check, vendor details, and messages as evidence
  • Report the employer and vendor

What not to do

  • Do not buy equipment with funds from an uncleared check
  • Do not use an employer's insisted-on 'approved vendor'
  • Do not share bank or ID details with unverified employers

Similar scams

Medium risk Job

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
High risk Job

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
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

Frequently asked questions

Do real employers send a check to buy equipment?
Legitimate employers provide equipment or reimburse you through payroll. A check to pay a specific vendor before it clears is a fake-check scam.
Why insist on their 'approved vendor'?
The vendor is the scammer. Once you pay them, the original check bounces and you lose the money you sent.
I paid the vendor. What now?
Contact your bank immediately, keep your evidence, and report it; the check will likely be reversed.
How do I verify a remote job?
Confirm the employer through its official site, be wary of fast hiring with no interview, and never pay vendors with uncleared 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.