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How to Avoid Work-From-Home Scams

By the Gray Hair Jobs Editorial Team · Published · Facts checked against sources on · 4 min read

The short answer

Avoid work-from-home scams by never paying to start a job, never depositing a check from a new employer and sending money back, and never buying gift cards for anyone. Verify the job on the employer's official careers page and expect a real phone or video interview. Report suspected scams to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Key points

  • Common work-from-home scams include fake check, reshipping, envelope-stuffing, and starter-kit schemes.
  • Real employers do not charge you to start work or require gift card payments.
  • Be cautious if an interview happens only through a chat app.
  • Wait to share bank details until you have verified the employer and have a written offer.
  • Report scams to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

What are common work-from-home scams?

Work-from-home scams take many forms, but most follow a few patterns. Knowing them makes them easier to spot.

  • Fake check scams. You are "hired" and sent a check to buy equipment or supplies. You are told to send part of the money to a vendor. The check bounces, and you owe your bank the full amount.
  • Reshipping scams. You receive packages at home and forward them elsewhere. The goods are often bought with stolen credit cards, and you may never be paid.
  • Starter-kit and training fees. You pay for materials, software, or certification to begin, and the job never materializes.
  • Envelope stuffing and assembly work. You pay for supplies or instructions, then your work is rejected or never paid for.
  • Fake "payment processing" or "financial assistant" jobs. You are asked to receive money into your bank account and send it on. This can involve you in money laundering.
  • Fake data entry or customer service jobs that exist only to collect your Social Security number and bank details.

What are the warning signs? A checklist

Stop and check if any of these happen:

  • You are asked to pay money for training, equipment, or a background check.
  • You are asked to buy gift cards or pay by wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
  • You are asked to deposit a check and send part of it somewhere else.
  • You are asked for bank details or your Social Security number before a real interview or written offer.
  • The recruiter's email domain does not match the company's official website.
  • The interview happens only by text or a chat app, with no phone or video call.
  • The pay is too good for simple work with no experience needed.
  • You cannot find the job on the employer's official careers page.
  • You are pressured to decide quickly or keep things secret.

How do I check a work-from-home job?

  1. Find the employer yourself. Search for the company's official website and look for the job on its careers page.
  2. Contact the company directly using information from its official site, not from the message you received.
  3. Look up the recruiter on LinkedIn and confirm they work there.
  4. Search the company name plus "scam" or "complaints."
  5. Use our scam check page for a quick second opinion.

For safer places to start, see finding legitimate remote work and browse work-from-home jobs.

What should I never do?

  • Never pay to get a job.
  • Never deposit a check from a new employer and send money on.
  • Never buy gift cards for an employer.
  • Never receive and forward money or packages for someone you have not verified.
  • Never share passwords or one-time verification codes.

What should I do if I think I've been scammed?

Act quickly. This is general information; follow official guidance for your situation.

  1. Stop contact with the scammer.
  2. Call your bank if you deposited a check, sent money, or shared account details.
  3. Contact the gift card company if you bought gift cards; ask whether funds can be frozen.
  4. Visit IdentityTheft.gov (opens in a new tab) if you shared your Social Security number.
  5. Report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab) and to the job site where you saw it.

Do not be embarrassed. Scams are designed by professionals to look real. Reporting protects you and others.

What are common mistakes?

  • Believing a scam can't happen to experienced people. Scammers target everyone.
  • Trusting a polished website or familiar logo. Both are easy to copy.
  • Following "urgent" instructions without pausing to check.
  • Relying on a check clearing. Funds may appear in your account before a bank discovers a check is fake.

Where can I find help?

Next steps

  1. Keep the checklist above handy when job searching.
  2. Verify every employer on its official careers page before applying.
  3. Use the scam check page when unsure.
  4. Read how to spot fake job listings.
  5. Browse remote jobs and set up a job alert.

Frequently asked questions

Do real work-from-home jobs ask you to pay for equipment?

Legitimate employers generally provide equipment or tell you what you need, and they do not ask you to pay them or a specific vendor upfront. Be especially cautious if they send you a check to buy equipment and ask you to send money to a vendor. That is a common scam pattern.

What is a reshipping scam?

In a reshipping scam, you are hired to receive packages at home and send them on to another address. The goods are often bought with stolen credit card numbers. You may never be paid and could be drawn into a crime. Real employers do not hire people to reship packages from their homes.

What should I do if I deposited a check from a fake employer?

Contact your bank right away and explain what happened. Do not send any money from that deposit. Banks may make funds available before discovering a check is fake, and you could be responsible for the full amount. Then stop contact with the scammer and report the scam at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Current jobs to explore

Sources

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