Work-from-home scam: is that job offer real?
Editorially reviewed · Last updated August 6, 2026
Yes — this is a scam. A remote job that asks you to pay, deposit a check and send money back, or promises too much for little work is a work-from-home scam.
Exhibit · Email
Other versions you might get: A reshipping job, mystery-shopper assignment, virtual-assistant offer, product or app task, or “business opportunity” can use the same script. The title changes, but the request for your money, a fee, a check deposit, or personal information is the tell.
What to do right now
- Stop before sending money. Do not pay for a starter kit, training, certification, or equipment, and do not deposit a check and send part back.
- Verify the employer independently. Search for the company and job yourself, compare the offer with the employer's official site, and do not use only the recruiter’s link or email address.
- If you received a check, tell your bank you suspect it is fake. Do not spend or forward the funds just because they appear available; a fake check can bounce later.
- If money or personal information moved, act quickly. Contact the bank or payment company, ask whether the payment can be reversed, and change any exposed passwords.
- Report the offer. File at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and keep the job post, messages, check, sender address, and payment instructions.
Reduce the risk of another scam
A fake employer may return with a second assignment or a refund story after the first payment. Keep the evidence, use the bank or payment provider's real contact details, and restart any job search from an employer's official site.
● Public service · free steps first
Take the free protection steps first
A suspicious message does not tell us how someone found your details. If you shared personal information, start with the official recovery guidance. You can also freeze your credit for free.
- Freeze your credit — free at all three bureausRestricts access to your credit report for new credit applications. It does not protect existing accounts from misuse.
- Report it and get a recovery plan at IdentityTheft.govThe FTC walks you through exactly what to do next, for free.
Decide what protection you need
Start with the free controls above. Compare what a paid service would add only after deciding which problem remains.
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Frequently asked
Is a work-from-home job with high pay and little work a scam?
Would a real employer send a check and ask me to send the rest back?
Do legitimate work-from-home jobs ask for money up front?
Is a work-from-home offer without an interview a scam?
I deposited a check from a job scam. What should I do?
Related scams
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Fake check scam: why you'll owe the money back
Someone sent you a check and wants you to send part back? That is a fake-check scam pattern. Available funds are not proof the check is valid.
Phishing email examples: 7 illustrations, annotated
Seven illustrated phishing emails impersonating familiar organizations, with annotated warning signs, independent checks, and steps after exposure.
Mystery shopper scam: the check is the trap
A secret-shopper job sends you a check, asks for an upfront fee, or tells you to wire money back? Here's the verdict and what to do.
Car wrap scam: is the paid-ad offer real?
A text, email, or ad promises easy money to wrap your car, then sends a check and asks you to pay an installer? Here's the scam pattern and what to do.
Sources
- 01Job scams— Federal Trade Commission
- 02How to spot a work-from-home scam— Social Security Administration — Choose Work
- 03What To Do if You Were Scammed— Federal Trade Commission
Pass it on
Help protect someone else
If this could have fooled you, it can fool someone you know — a parent, a friend, the family group chat. It's safe to forward, and stands on its own as a record for a bank or the police.