Job and employment scams

How it works

Common patterns scammers use to target young workers:

1. "Starter kit" scam. "Earn $500/week stuffing envelopes from home! Send $30 for the starter kit." You send $30. No envelopes ever arrive.
2. Check overpayment / fake check scam. A "manager" hires you remotely and mails you a check for $2,500. They tell you to deposit it, keep $400, and "send the rest to the equipment vendor" via wire or gift card. Days later the check bounces. You owe the bank the full amount.
3. Reshipping scam. A "company" hires you to receive packages and mail them somewhere else. The packages are stolen goods. You can be charged with handling stolen property.
4. "Task" or "rating" scam. You're hired to "rate products" or "complete tasks." It pays a little at first to build trust, then asks you to deposit your own money to "unlock higher tiers." Your money is gone.

Why people fall for it

• The job sounds easy and pays surprisingly well.
• Early "payments" feel real and build trust.
• Scammers build elaborate fake company websites and Slack workspaces.
• When you're new to job hunting, every offer feels worth taking seriously.

Red flags

• You have to pay anything to start. Real jobs pay you, not the other way around.
• You were hired without an interview or only over text/Telegram.
• The "company" only communicates outside email (WhatsApp, Telegram).
• You're asked to deposit a check and forward part of it to anyone.
• The job involves receiving packages and shipping them onward.
• The pay is way above market for the type of work.

How to stay safe

1. Never send money to start a job. Period.
2. Verify the company. Search their name + "scam" or check BBB Scam Tracker.
3. Be very suspicious of remote jobs that hire you instantly without an interview.
4. Never deposit a check from someone you don't know and forward part of it. The check will bounce. You'll owe the money.
5. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

Related lessons

• Reading your first paycheck
• Spotting money scams online
• Glossary: Side hustle

Sources & further reading

• Better Business Bureau — Job scams
• Federal Trade Commission — Job scams
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center — IC3.gov

Educational only — not financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. If you think you've been scammed, tell a trusted adult immediately and report it to the FTC and the BBB Scam Tracker.