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Do not deposit, forward, spend, or refund money connected to a job offer until you verify the employer independently. A request to receive a check and send part of it onward, transfer money to a supposed client or supplier, buy gift cards or cryptocurrency, or pay a fee to obtain work is a serious scam warning. A check can appear to clear while the bank is still determining that it is fraudulent, leaving you responsible for money you sent.
Stop the transaction, locate the organization’s real website yourself, confirm that the vacancy appears on its official careers page, and contact the company through a phone number or email address published there—not through details supplied by the recruiter. This guide is U.S.-focused, based on Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consumer guidance. It cannot determine whether a particular offer is fraudulent or guarantee that a payment can be reversed.
Why a money request changes the risk assessment
In ordinary employment, the employer controls payroll and purchasing systems. You provide work and approved payment details; you are not asked to use your personal bank account as a temporary account for company funds. When a “job” requires you to accept money and move it elsewhere, the transaction itself is the warning sign, even if the company name, interview, email signature, or website looks professional.
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Scammers may present the request as a short-term assignment, a customer-payment role, a purchasing job, a mystery-shopping project, an accounts-payable position, or an online “task.” The label does not change the risk. Ask who owns the money, why it must pass through your account, and why the employer cannot use its own payroll or vendor process. A legitimate explanation still needs confirmation through the company’s independently found contact channel.
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Fake checks can look available in your account
Banks may make funds available before they finish checking whether a check is genuine. A scammer can therefore tell you that money has arrived and demand a quick refund, wire, gift-card purchase, equipment payment, or transfer to a “supplier.” If the check is later returned as fraudulent, your bank can remove the credited amount and you may owe the money you sent onward. An available balance is not proof that a check is authentic.
Do not assume that a check bearing a familiar bank name, a company logo, a plausible amount, or a professional-looking letter is safe. The FTC’s work-from-home guidance specifically warns that no honest potential employer sends a check and then tells you to send part of it back or buy gift cards. Ask your bank about the check, but do not treat a bank employee’s ability to see a deposit as confirmation that the person who sent it is a real employer.
Forwarding funds can make you a money mule
The FTC warns that people who transfer stolen money for someone else can become money mules, even when they were not told where the money came from. That can expose your account to closure, repayment demands, identity theft, and possible legal consequences. The agency’s direct advice is: Don’t accept a job that asks you to transfer money or packages — even if they tell you to send money to a ‘client’ or ‘supplier.’
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A request to open another account, recruit friends, receive packages, or reship merchandise is the same basic warning: someone is trying to use your identity, address, or financial access as the middleman. Stop rather than trying to “test” the arrangement with a small amount.
The scale of reported losses
| FTC figure | What it means |
|---|---|
| $367 million | Reported consumer losses to business and job-opportunity scams in 2022, published by the FTC in April 2023. |
| $2,000 | Median reported loss for those scams in 2022. This is a population statistic, not a prediction of what any individual will lose. |
These figures cover reported U.S. consumer complaints; many incidents are never reported, and the numbers do not establish that a particular offer is genuine or fraudulent. They do show why a request to move money deserves the same caution as an obviously suspicious investment or payment demand.
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Verify the offer before depositing or transferring anything
- Pause every transaction. Do not deposit the check, spend credited funds, send a refund, buy supplies, purchase gift cards or cryptocurrency, or provide your online-banking credentials. Save the messages, check images, phone numbers, email headers, payment instructions, and any contract. Do not click a payment link simply to see where it leads.
- Find the employer independently. Type the company name into your own browser or use a trusted directory. Do not rely on a link, QR code, phone number, email address, or messaging account in the recruiter’s message. Watch for look-alike domains, extra words, unusual country-code domains, and small spelling changes. Use the address you locate yourself rather than copying the address in the offer.
- Check the official careers page. Search for the exact title, location, duties, and requisition number. The FTC says, “Verify job openings before you apply. Visit the official website for the organization or company you’re applying for.” An absent listing does not prove fraud—some legitimate roles are confidential or filled through agencies—but it means you need another independent confirmation before proceeding. A listing that appears only on a job board is not the same as a listing on the employer’s own site.
- Contact the company through its published channel. Call a number or email an address listed on the independently located website. Ask whether the recruiter works there, whether the vacancy is real, and whether the company ever asks candidates to receive or forward money. Do not use contact information supplied only in the offer. If the first person who answers cannot verify recruiting, ask for the human-resources or recruiting department through the company’s main switchboard.
- Search for corroborating warnings. Search the company, recruiter’s name, email address, phone number, and distinctive wording beside terms such as “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” Look for repeated reports of the same check amount, script, or task. No negative result is not proof of legitimacy: a new impersonation may have no reports, and scammers can copy a real employee’s identity.
- Request ordinary job details in writing. Ask for the duties, supervisor, working hours, pay rate, employment classification, start date, work location, and normal payroll method. A caregiver-job scam, for example, may avoid saying who the client is, where work occurs, or how payment is handled. Refusal, evasive answers, or pressure to act before details are supplied is a warning sign. Written documents can be forged, so they supplement—not replace—independent verification.
- Verify the payment direction. A legitimate employer pays you through its payroll or an established expense process. It should not require your personal account to receive money for a client, supplier, vendor, or another worker, nor require you to refund an alleged overpayment. Clarify whether any expense is paid directly by the company and whether you would ever handle customer funds; do not accept a verbal assurance as a substitute for independent confirmation.
- Give yourself time. Legitimate employers can explain a normal interview, offer, onboarding, and payroll schedule. A demand that you act within minutes, keep the arrangement secret, or avoid contacting the company is designed to block verification. Say that you will respond after checking the offer through the company’s public contact information.
Legitimate hiring versus a suspicious money flow
| Check | More consistent with legitimate hiring | Suspicious pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Account control | The employer’s payroll or purchasing system controls funds; you submit approved expenses through documented procedures. | Your personal checking account is used to receive and forward company money. |
| Direction of payment | The employer pays wages or reimburses documented expenses after approval. | You must pay a fee, return part of a check, send money to a “client” or “supplier,” or buy items for the recruiter. |
| Verification channel | You confirm the role and recruiter through the organization’s independently found website and published contact details. | All confirmation comes from a recruiter-provided link, number, email, or chat account. |
| Timing and pressure | Normal interviews, written terms, and a documented start and payroll process. | An early check, supposed overpayment, online “task,” or demand to act immediately. |
| Payment instrument | Payroll follows the employer’s normal schedule and tax documentation. | A check arrives before work begins, or you are told to wire money, buy gift cards, send cryptocurrency, or purchase equipment or supplies. |
| Information requested | Information is collected through the employer’s normal, verified onboarding process after the role is confirmed. | The recruiter asks for bank credentials, a Social Security number, identity documents, or a deposit before the company confirms the job. |
These are risk indicators, not a mathematical test. One sign can justify stopping while you verify; the absence of a sign does not establish that the offer is safe. A genuine company can be impersonated, and a scammer can copy an authentic job description.
Common job-offer money scams and what to do
“Deposit this check and send the excess back”
No honest potential employer will ever send you a check and then tell you to send on part of the money, or to buy gift cards with it, according to the FTC. Do not deposit it for the purpose described. If it is already deposited, do not spend or transfer the apparent balance; call your bank’s fraud department using the number on your card or statement. Tell the bank exactly when you deposited the check and whether any funds were sent elsewhere.
“Pay a fee to get the job”
Legitimate hiring does not require you to pay an application, training, certification, equipment, or background-check fee to obtain employment. A real employer may disclose ordinary costs associated with a profession, but a recruiter who demands payment to release a job, paycheck, or interview is giving you a reason to stop and independently confirm the business. Do not pay by wire, gift card, cryptocurrency, payment app, or cash simply because the recruiter says the fee is refundable.
“Buy gift cards, cryptocurrency, equipment, or supplies”
Scammers may describe purchases as a remote-office setup, a client order, or a reimbursable assignment. Do not use your money or a deposited check to buy gift-card codes, cryptocurrency, computers, or supplies for a recruiter. Once codes or cryptocurrency are sent, recovery is uncertain and often difficult. A request to send a photograph of the gift-card number or receipt is still a transfer of value, not proof of employment.
“Transfer money to our client or supplier”
That request matches the FTC’s money-mule warning. Even if the sender says the transfer is routine, temporary, or part of an online task, decline and end contact until the purported employer confirms the role through an independently found channel. Do not open additional accounts or recruit other people to move funds. An employer that truly needs a supplier paid can use its own purchasing staff and business accounts.
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Text-first recruiting and hijacked advertisements
FTC alerts from April 2026 describe fake recruiters who contact people by text, then send a check or direct them to an online task. Scammers also copy real job advertisements and impersonate known companies. Professional graphics, a plausible logo, a video interview, or a real company name does not authenticate the sender. Treat an unexpected text as an invitation to verify, not as evidence that the offer is urgent or exclusive.
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Urgency, threats that the offer will expire, instructions not to contact the company, requests to keep the arrangement secret, or demands to use a particular payment service are designed to prevent independent checking. Pause rather than allowing a deadline to decide for you. Do not let a recruiter remain on the phone while you log in to your bank or purchase a payment instrument.
How to verify a remote job offer safely
Use a clean path to the company
Open a new browser tab and enter the organization’s address yourself. Navigate to “Careers,” “Jobs,” or the company’s published contact page. Compare the recruiter’s claimed department, job title, and location with the site. Do not sign in through a recruiter’s link or upload identity documents until the company confirms the offer. If the company has an official social-media account, use it only to locate the public website; do not treat a direct message as confirmation.
Ask the company a specific question
Use a neutral script: “I received an offer for [job title] from [recruiter name] using [email address or phone number]. Is this person authorized to recruit for you, and is this requisition open? Has your company asked candidates to receive, refund, or transfer money?” A legitimate company can answer through its own channel; a scammer cannot control that channel. Record the date, department, and response, but do not disclose more personal information than needed to ask the question.
Check the proposed work and payment method
Require a clear description of what you will do, who supervises you, when you will be paid, and how payroll works. Legitimate employers can explain whether you are an employee or contractor and what tax forms apply. Do not treat a polished offer letter as independent proof: templates and signatures are easy to copy. Compare the proposed pay, schedule, and duties with the company’s published description and ask why any unusual payment step is necessary.
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Be cautious with “task” platforms
Some current scripts promise commissions for clicking, rating, or optimizing items online, then require you to deposit money to unlock the next task or withdraw supposed earnings. The FTC’s April 2026 alert identifies this pattern alongside fake-check requests. Never pay to release wages or use a check to fund an online task. Close the account and preserve the messages if the platform demands a deposit.
If you already deposited, paid, or transferred money
- Stop immediately. End communication with the suspected scammer and make no further deposits, transfers, purchases, or withdrawals. Preserve evidence instead of deleting the conversation. Do not warn the scammer that you are reporting; simply stop responding.
- Call your bank or credit union. Explain that the transaction is connected to a suspected job scam and disclose any check deposit. Ask what protective steps are available for the account and whether a payment can be stopped, recalled, or flagged. Follow the institution’s instructions; do not assume that a pending or available transaction is final. Ask whether online-banking access, cards, or account numbers should be changed.
- Contact the payment company at once. If you used a wire-transfer service, gift-card issuer, cryptocurrency exchange, payment app, or other provider, report the fraud through its official support channel. Reversal depends on the payment type and timing, so no one can promise recovery. Use the number on the provider’s real website or card, not a number sent by the person who contacted you.
- Secure exposed accounts. Change passwords from a device you trust, enable multifactor authentication, and ask the financial institution whether account numbers, cards, or online access should be replaced. Do not reuse a password that was shared with the recruiter. Monitor statements and credit activity for unauthorized transactions.
- Report the incident. File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If the offer appeared on a job board or social platform, report the account and listing to that platform so it can investigate. Include the company being impersonated, recruiter details, payment instructions, and dates.
- Use identity-theft guidance if information was shared. If you provided a Social Security number, identity document, bank credentials, or other sensitive information, follow the FTC’s steps at IdentityTheft.gov and ask your financial institution about additional protection. Keep copies of your report and the bank’s instructions.
Fast reporting cannot guarantee that funds will be recovered, but delay can reduce the options available from a bank, wire service, gift-card issuer, or payment app. The FTC specifically advises money-mule victims to tell their bank and the transfer or gift-card company right away.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What verification can—and cannot—prove
Independent confirmation substantially reduces the risk of dealing with an impersonator, but it is not a guarantee that every business or job is safe. A real company name can be hijacked; a careers page can be copied; and a genuine recruiter can make an administrative mistake. Keep control of your money, verify through a channel you found yourself, and refuse any arrangement that makes your personal account the middleman.
Payment-reversal rights, reporting obligations, and potential legal consequences vary by payment method and jurisdiction. This U.S.-focused guidance is practical fraud prevention, not individualized legal advice. If a financial institution or law-enforcement agency gives you instructions that differ from general guidance, follow the institution handling your case.
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- “Don’t accept a job that asks you to transfer money or packages — even if they tell you to send money to a ‘client’ or ‘supplier.’”
- “No honest potential employer will ever send you a check and then tell you to send on part of the money, or to buy gift cards with it.”
- “Verify job openings before you apply. Visit the official website for the organization or company you’re applying for.”
Those statements describe the safest default: stop the money movement, verify the job through independently located employer details, and report quickly if funds or personal information have already been exposed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a job offer that asks me to deposit a check?
Do not deposit it to return money, buy items, or fund a task. Find the employer’s official website yourself, check its careers page, and call a published company number to confirm the recruiter and opening. If you already deposited the check, do not spend the balance; contact your bank’s fraud department immediately.
Is it a scam if a job asks me to transfer money to a client or supplier?
Treat it as a serious warning sign. The FTC says not to accept a job that asks you to transfer money or packages, even to a supposed client or supplier. A legitimate employer should use its own payroll, purchasing, or vendor-payment systems rather than your personal account.
The recruiter sent me a check and wants some money back. What should I do?
Do not send anything back or buy gift cards. A check can appear available before it is found fraudulent, and you may have to repay the bank after sending money onward. Contact your bank using the number on your card or statement and report the offer.
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Enter the company’s web address yourself, locate its official careers page, compare the role’s title and details, and contact the company through a published phone number or email address. Do not rely only on a recruiter-provided link, number, chat account, logo, or offer letter.
What should I do after sending money to a fake employer?
Stop communicating and making transfers. Call your bank or credit union and the wire, gift-card, cryptocurrency, payment-app, or other provider immediately; ask whether the transaction can be stopped or recalled. Report the fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, notify the job platform, and use IdentityTheft.gov if personal or account information was exposed.
Can a legitimate employer ask me to pay for equipment or training?
A demand for payment to obtain the job, release a paycheck, or receive an interview is a warning sign. Do not pay a recruiter by wire, gift card, cryptocurrency, or payment app without independently confirming the employer and the business purpose. Never use a deposited check to fund the purchase.
Does an official-looking email or a real company name prove the offer is genuine?
No. Scammers impersonate known employers, hijack job advertisements, copy logos, and may use a real employee’s name. Verify the recruiter and vacancy through the company’s independently located website and published contact details.
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Never let a supposed employer turn your personal account into its money-transfer system. Stop before depositing, forwarding, spending, or refunding funds; verify the job through the employer’s official website and independently found contact information. If money or sensitive information has already been sent, contact the bank and payment provider immediately, then report the incident to the FTC.
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