Remote Job Scam Checklist: 12 Red Flags
Updated October 2, 2026
Remote jobs are a favourite lure for scammers because everything happens online and the victim never visits an office. The pattern is consistent: the job looks easy and well paid, the process is fast, and at some point you are asked for money, a card or access. Use this list at every stage.
Red flags in the posting
A genuine posting names the employer, describes the work and is reachable from the company's own site. Be careful with posts that could be for any company at all.
- No named company, or a company name you cannot find anywhere else.
- Pay that is unusually high for unskilled, no-experience work.
- Vague duties such as processing, reshipping or handling payments.
- A free email address (for example a webmail address) as the only contact.
Red flags in the interview
Real hiring involves people who can answer questions about the role. Scam interviews are often entirely text-based.
- The interview is only by chat app or text, with no live conversation.
- You are hired almost immediately, with no questions about your experience.
- The recruiter will not say who you would report to.
Red flags in the offer
The money step is where the scam is revealed. The FTC describes the common version: you are asked to pay for training, equipment, software or a background check, or to deposit a cheque and send some of it on.
- You are asked to pay for anything, including equipment, training or a certification.
- You receive a cheque and are told to forward or spend part of it.
- You are told to buy gift cards or send cryptocurrency.
- You are asked for bank, identity or tax documents before a signed offer.
If you have already shared details or sent money
Act quickly and stop contact. Contact your bank immediately to try to stop or reverse payments. Change passwords on any account you shared. Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and if you are in the United States and money was lost, also to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. If you shared identity details, consider placing a fraud alert or freeze with the credit bureaus; the FTC's guidance walks through it.
Remote job scam red flags
- No named employer, or one you cannot verify independently.
- Recruiter contacts you first and the post could be for any company.
- Pay is far above the going rate for the work described.
- The interview is only text chat, with no live video or voice.
- You are offered the job with no real questions asked.
- The company domain and the recruiter's email domain do not match.
- You are asked to pay for equipment, training or checks.
- You are sent a cheque and asked to forward part of it.
- You are asked to buy gift cards or send crypto.
- You are asked for bank or identity details before a signed offer.
- You are pressured to decide or pay today.
- The job involves receiving and forwarding packages or payments for others.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it a scam if a recruiter messages me first?
- Not necessarily; real recruiters do. Treat it as a lead and verify it yourself through the company's own careers page rather than the link in the message.
- Where do I report a job scam?
- In the United States, report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you lost money, also file with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Elsewhere, use your national consumer protection or cybercrime agency.
- Should a legitimate employer ever ask me to pay?
- No. Legitimate employers do not charge you to be hired or require you to pay for equipment from a specified vendor before you start.
Sources
General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules differ by country and change; check current official guidance.