Employment United States Medium risk
Remote Job Offer & Check Scam
A well-paid remote job hires you instantly, sends a check for equipment, and the check later bounces.
- Who scammers target
- Students, new graduates and people looking for remote work
- Typical reported loss
- $500 – $4,000 per case
- Why people fall for this
- The cheque clears on screen for several days, which looks like proof the employer is real.
How it works
- 1You are recruited by text or on a job board for a remote role with unusually good pay.
- 2The "interview" happens entirely over chat, often on Telegram or Signal.
- 3You are sent a check or deposit to buy equipment from a specified vendor.
- 4The check bounces days later; the money you forwarded to the vendor is gone and you owe the bank.
Real-world example
Devon is hired as a "data QA associate" at $38/hour. A $4,200 check arrives for a home-office setup; he wires $3,600 to the recommended supplier. The check is returned as fraudulent and his account goes negative.
- Hired without a video interview, or interviewed only in a chat app.
- Any job that sends you money to spend on their behalf.
- Requests for your bank login, SSN or a fee before you start.
- Never buy equipment with funds an employer sent you — legitimate companies ship it.
- Verify the company through its official website and call its published number.
- Wait for a check to fully clear (weeks, not days) before spending it.
- Report job scams to the FTC and to the job board.
What it looks like
Unknown contact
"Congrats! Deposit $4,200 sent for your equipment"
Wait, why do I need to scan?