Medium riskJob

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.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Work-from-home job scam
Main red flag
A new 'employer' sends you a cheque or funds and asks you to buy gift cards or forward money before the payment has truly cleared.
What to do first
Do not move any money or buy gift cards, and verify the company and role through its official website before going further.

How this scam works

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.

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.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: A new 'employer' sends you a cheque or funds and asks you to buy gift cards or forward money before the payment has truly cleared. Do not move any money or buy gift cards, and verify the company and role through its official website before going further.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Fake Job Offer Scam and the Fake Remote Data Entry Job Scam. See the full Job Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • Generous pay for very simple tasks with little or no interview
  • Being sent a cheque or deposit and asked to forward part of it on
  • A task involving buying gift cards and sharing the codes
  • A request for upfront fees, equipment costs, or your full bank login details
  • Communication only through chat apps with a vague or unverifiable employer

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Welcome aboard as my personal assistant! Your first task: I have deposited your starting funds. Please buy three gift cards for office supplies and send me the codes, then keep $200 as your pay.'

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.

What gives it away: A new 'employer' sends you a cheque or funds and asks you to buy gift cards or forward money before the payment has truly cleared.

The scale of it

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

How to protect yourself

  • Verify the company and the person hiring through the official website and contact details
  • Be cautious of any job that involves receiving money and passing it on
  • Wait until funds are genuinely cleared before acting on instructions to spend them
  • Decline roles that ask for upfront payment or full banking credentials

Already responded? Do this now

  • If you forwarded money or bought gift cards, stop all further tasks immediately
  • Contact your bank, as a deposited cheque can later bounce and leave you owing the amount
  • Report any gift card scam to the card issuer in case the funds can be frozen
  • Report the fake job to the platform where it was posted and your national anti-fraud centre

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not buy gift cards or forward money as part of a job task
  • Do not pay any upfront fee for a job, training, or equipment
  • Do not share your full bank login or let an 'employer' deposit and withdraw money

Related scams to know

High risk Job

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
Medium risk Job

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
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

Common questions

Why does the 'employer' send me a cheque first?
The cheque looks like it clears at first, so you act on it, but it later bounces. By then you may have already forwarded real money or bought gift cards, leaving you to cover the loss.
Are all virtual assistant jobs scams?
No, many genuine virtual assistant roles exist. The warning signs are tasks that involve handling and forwarding money, requests for upfront fees, and employers you cannot verify.
Is it safe to give my bank details for payroll?
A legitimate employer may need basic details to pay you, but they should never need your full online banking login or one-time codes. Be cautious if asked for more than standard payroll information.
What should I do if I have already lost money?
Contact your bank right away, especially if a deposited cheque may bounce, and report any gift cards to the issuer. Then report the scam to the job platform and your national anti-fraud centre.

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.