Job scams: how to spot a fake job offer before it costs you.
Scammers copy real company names, real job titles and real recruiting language. The tell is almost never the logo: it is what they ask you to do.
A job is very likely a scam if it asks you to pay for the job, training or equipment, sends you a check to deposit and asks you to send part of the money on, or pushes you to share bank details or your Social Security number before a verified offer. Verify the employer independently, never pay to get a job, and report scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Warning signs
They ask you to pay
Fees for training, equipment, background checks or 'placement' are the classic sign. The FTC's guidance is quoted under Official sources below.
The fake check
You receive a check, deposit it, and are asked to send part of the money elsewhere. The check later bounces and the money you sent is gone.
Too fast, too vague
An offer after a chat-only 'interview', vague duties, pay far above the market for the work, or pressure to decide immediately.
Off-platform contact
A 'recruiter' moves you to a messaging app, uses a personal email address, or can't be found on the company's own site.
Check an employer in five minutes
- Find the company's official website yourself, not through the link you were sent.
- Look for the role on the company's own careers page.
- Check the recruiter's email domain matches the company's.
- Search the company name with 'scam' or 'reviews'.
- Never pay, deposit checks or share bank details before a verified offer.
3 copy-ready templates
Illustrative: names, companies, dates and numbers in these templates and examples are fictional. Replace every bracket with your own true details before you use anything.
Verification request to a 'recruiter'
When to use: When you're unsure whether contact is genuine.
Hi [Name], thanks for reaching out about [Role]. Before we continue, could you send the posting from [Company]'s official careers page and confirm your company email address? I'd also like to schedule a video interview with the hiring manager. Thank you, [Your name]
Polite exit from a suspicious offer
When to use: When the signs point to a scam.
Thank you, but I've decided not to continue with this opportunity. Please remove my details from your records.
Report details checklist
When to use: Gather these before you report.
Company name used: [ ] Contact names, emails, phone numbers: [ ] Website or app used: [ ] What they asked for: [ ] Any payments or checks (amounts, dates): [ ] Screenshots saved: [yes/no]
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Everything on this page is free to use without buying anything.
What to do
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Asked to pay for training or equipment | Stop; don't pay. |
| Received a check to deposit | Don't deposit or send money; contact your bank if you did. |
| Recruiter can't be verified | Stop until verified through the company's own site. |
| Already sent money or data | Contact your bank, and report to the FTC. |
The same move, done two ways
Illustrative example with fictional details.
| Version | Example |
|---|---|
| Weak | Accepted a 'remote assistant' offer after a text-message interview and deposited a check to buy office equipment. |
| Strong | Asked the 'recruiter' for the official posting and a company email, found neither, stopped contact and reported it. |
Why it matters: Real employers can be verified independently and never need your money to hire you.
Mistakes to avoid
- Trusting a company logo or name.
- Paying for training, equipment or a background check.
- Depositing a check from a new 'employer'.
- Sharing bank details or SSN before a verified offer.
What official sources say
Quoted word for word from official pages; state law, local law and your contract can add rules.
- Federal Trade Commission, Job Scams: "Honest employers, including the federal government, will never ask you to pay to get a job." Accessed Nov 3, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission, Job Scams: "No honest potential employer will ever send you a check to deposit and then tell you to send on part of the money". Accessed Nov 3, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission, Job Scams: "If a placement firm asks you for a fee — especially one you have to pay in advance — walk away." Accessed Nov 3, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission, Job Scams: "If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov". Accessed Nov 3, 2026.
Keep going
Questions people ask
How can I tell if a job offer is fake?
Do real employers ask you to buy equipment?
Where do I report a job scam?
What if I already sent money?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. The steps, scripts and timing guides are practical advice, labelled as advice. We do not publish response rates, success rates or shares of employers, and every example uses fictional details. Official facts are quoted word for word from the pages listed under Sources.
- How a specific employer, recruiter or manager will act: practices vary by company, industry and person.
- Legal advice: for contracts, background-check disputes, pay classification or a termination, talk to an employment attorney, the U.S. Department of Labor or your state agency.
- Outcomes: no message, plan or program can promise an interview, a raise or a job.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 4, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission, Job Scams: "Honest employers, including the federal government, will never ask you to pay to get a job." Accessed Nov 3, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission, Job Scams: "No honest potential employer will ever send you a check to deposit and then tell you to send on part of the money". Accessed Nov 3, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission, Job Scams: "If a placement firm asks you for a fee — especially one you have to pay in advance — walk away." Accessed Nov 3, 2026.
- Federal Trade Commission, Job Scams: "If you see a job scam, or lose money to one, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov". Accessed Nov 3, 2026.