Knowing how to spot a fake job offer can save you money, protect your identity and keep you from being pulled into someone else’s crime. Scammers advertise in the same places real employers do, including online, in newspapers and sometimes on TV or radio, and some pose as well-known companies to look legitimate.
This guide explains the warning signs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other federal agencies describe, how common schemes such as fake checks and reshipping work, how to check whether an employer is real, and what to do if you have already paid or shared personal information.
Key takeaways
- A real employer will not ask you to pay to get a job, and will not send you a check and ask you to send part of the money back.
- Jobs that only involve receiving, repackaging and forwarding packages are reshipping scams.
- Research any employer independently and talk to someone you trust before you accept.
- Report fake job offers at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, to the FBI’s IC3.gov and to your state attorney general.
- If you paid, contact the company you used to send the money right away and ask whether it can be reversed.
Warning signs of a fake job offer
The FTC’s job scams guidance and consumer.gov point to several red flags. Be cautious if an offer includes any of the following:
- You have to pay first. Fees for the job, training, certification, a starter kit or a “guaranteed” position are a major warning sign.
- High pay for little work. The FTC says that a job promising a lot of money quickly for little effort is almost certainly a scam.
- A check you must partly send back. No honest employer sends you a check and asks you to return part of it or buy gift cards with it.
- Unusual payment methods. Scammers often insist on gift cards, cryptocurrency, payment apps or wire transfers, which consumer.gov notes are hard to get back.
- Unexpected contact. Job offers by email or phone from someone who seems to be connected to your community, school or college.
- Disappearing contacts. Phone numbers that stop working or websites that vanish after you are “hired.”
Common fake job scams
The FTC describes several recurring types of job scams:
| Scam type | How it typically works |
|---|---|
| Work-from-home | Promises large monthly earnings; victims pay for useless starter kits, training or certifications, or get drawn into a fake check scheme. |
| Reshipping | You receive packages, remove the original packaging and receipts, and forward the goods, sometimes overseas. The promised pay never arrives. |
| Nanny, caregiver or virtual assistant | The “employer” sends a check, tells you to keep part and forward the rest. |
| Mystery shopper | Some listings are real, but you are asked to pay for certifications or to deposit a check and send money back. |
| Job placement services | Firms charge upfront fees and post outdated or fake openings. Honest placement firms are usually paid by the hiring company. |
| Government and postal jobs | Ads promise a federal or postal job for a fee, even though federal and USPS job information and applications are free. |
| Reselling merchandise | You pay for brand-name goods to resell; the package never arrives or contains junk. |
Reshipping scams up close
The FTC’s December 2025 alert on reshipping scams explains that scammers buy expensive items, such as electronics, with stolen card or bank information and use you to move the goods. The ads often carry official-sounding titles like “quality control manager” or “delivery operations specialist” and may claim ties to familiar companies such as Amazon or FedEx. You may handle stolen goods, and any bank account number, Social Security number or ID copy you shared can be used for identity theft. The FTC’s bottom line is that reshipping goods is never a real job.
How fake check scams work
Fake checks are behind many job scams. The FTC’s fake check guidance describes the pattern: someone sends you a check, often for more than expected, and asks you to send part of the money back or to someone else, for supplies, fees or a “mistaken” overpayment.
The trap is timing. Banks are required by law to make deposited funds available quickly, so the money can appear in your account even though the check is fake. The FTC says it can take weeks for a bank to discover a fake check. By then, the money you sent is gone, and you may have to repay the bank. Fake checks can look real, even to bank employees.
The safe rule: never use money from a check to buy gift cards, money orders or cryptocurrency, or to wire money to someone who asked you to.
When scammers pretend to be real companies
Some fake job offers use the name, logo or website style of a real employer or staffing firm. An alert republished by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency describes the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) warning about scammers who spoof company websites, post fake openings, hold fake interviews and even make job offers before asking for Social Security numbers and bank account details.
The FTC also warns about emails that seem to come from your community, school or college, and about fake ads for government and postal jobs. Because the branding can look convincing, the name on a message is not proof of who sent it.
How to verify an employer before you say yes
Use these steps before you accept an offer or share sensitive information. Most of them come directly from FTC guidance:
- Search the company and the recruiter. Type the company or person’s name plus words like “scam,” “review” or “complaint.” The FTC cautions that finding no complaints does not guarantee an offer is legitimate.
- Contact the company yourself. Find the employer’s website or phone number on your own, not from the message you received, and ask whether the job and the recruiter are real.
- Look for the job on official channels. The FTC suggests starting with sources such as USAJOBS for federal jobs and CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
- Talk to someone you trust. Describing the offer to a friend or family member also gives you time to think.
- Never pay for the promise of a job. Honest employers, including the federal government, do not charge you to be hired.
- Do not rely on a “cleared” check. Funds showing in your account do not mean the check is good.
If you are applying for government work, our guide on how to apply for federal jobs on USAJOBS explains the official process, which never involves a fee.
How to report a fake job offer
Reporting helps law enforcement spot patterns and build cases. You can report to more than one place:
- Federal Trade Commission: ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or by phone at 1-877-382-4357, as listed on consumer.gov.
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: IC3.gov accepts complaints about cyber-enabled crime. Its FAQ suggests including transaction details, information about the person who contacted you and a description of what happened. IC3 does not investigate cases itself; it forwards complaints to law enforcement, and you will not receive status updates.
- Your state attorney general: The FTC points consumers to their state attorney general’s office for state-level complaints.
- U.S. Postal Inspection Service: For reshipping or mail-related fraud, the FTC recommends reporting at uspis.gov/report.
Keep copies of messages, job ads, checks and receipts. IC3 notes that it does not accept attachments, so you should keep original evidence yourself.
What to do if you paid or shared information
Act quickly. The FTC’s guide for people who were scammed recommends contacting the company you used to send the money, reporting the fraud and asking whether the transaction can be reversed.
| How you paid | What to do now |
|---|---|
| Credit or debit card | Contact your card issuer or bank, report the fraudulent charge and ask for a refund. |
| Bank transfer or Zelle | Contact your bank or credit union and ask them to reverse the payment. |
| Wire transfer | Contact the wire company (such as Western Union or MoneyGram), say you were scammed and ask for a refund. |
| Payment app | Report it to the app and ask them to reverse the payment. |
| Gift card | Contact the card issuer, report the scam and ask for a refund. Keep the card and receipt. |
| Cryptocurrency | Contact the exchange or ATM operator, report the fraud and ask for a reversal. Recovery can be difficult. |
| Cash by mail | Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 right away. |
If you shared personal information
If a scammer has your Social Security number and has used it, the FTC recommends reporting it at IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized recovery plan. If you are not sure whether it has been used, follow the steps at IdentityTheft.gov/databreach. If you shared an account password, change it, including anywhere you reused it, and turn on two-factor authentication. Checking your credit reports is another useful step; see our guide on how to get your free credit report.
Be careful of follow-up contacts from people claiming to be with the government. The FTC notes it will never tell you to move money to protect it or to withdraw cash or buy gold. For more ways to stay safe, visit our Reader Safety page.
Note: This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Guidance can change, so confirm details with the official source or a qualified professional. See our Disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Can a real employer ask me to pay for training or equipment?
The FTC says honest employers, including the federal government, do not charge you to get a job. Upfront fees for jobs, placement, training or certifications are a major warning sign. If an offer requires payment before you start, walk away.
The check cleared, so is it safe to send money back?
No. Banks must make deposited funds available quickly, but the FTC says it can take weeks to discover that a check is fake. If it bounces, you may have to repay the bank, while the scammer keeps any money you sent.
Are package forwarding jobs legitimate?
Jobs that only involve receiving packages, repackaging them and sending them to a new address are reshipping scams, according to the FTC. The goods are often bought with stolen card information, and you may never be paid.
Where should I report a fake job offer?
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. You can also contact your state attorney general, and for mail or reshipping fraud, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Do federal job sites charge application fees?
No. The FTC states that federal and U.S. Postal Service job information and applications are free. Any ad promising a government or postal job for a fee is a scam.
Official sources
- Job Scams – Federal Trade Commission
- Can you unbox the signs of a reshipping scam? – Federal Trade Commission
- How to Spot, Avoid, and Report Fake Check Scams – Federal Trade Commission
- What To Do if You Were Scammed – Federal Trade Commission
- How to spot a job scam – Federal Trade Commission
- Job Scams Explained – consumer.gov (FTC)
- Frequently Asked Questions – FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Internet Crime Complaint Center – FBI
- IC3 Issues Alert on Employment Scams – Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Last checked: November 6, 2026. We review this guide when the official rules change.