Type of scam
Fake Job Offer
Scammers post fake jobs on sites like LinkedIn and Indeed, or text you out of the blue. They want your personal information, or ask you to pay for training or equipment.
Also called: LinkedIn job scam, Work from home scam, Employment scam, Task scam
The one thing to remember
A real job will never ask you to pay to start working.
Which one sounds like what happened?
How it happens
- You see a job ad, or get a text: “We saw your résumé, $500 a day working from home!”
- They pretend to be a real company, often with a website that was made very recently.
- They move the chat to WhatsApp, Telegram or email.
- The “interview” is just a text chat. You get the job right away.
- They ask for your Social Security number and bank details, or send a check for “equipment” and ask you to send some back.
Warning signs
- A job offer you didn't apply for.
- Pay that's much higher than normal for easy work.
- An interview only by text message.
- Being asked to pay for training, equipment or a starter fee.
- A company website that was just created, or a strange email address.
What to do
- Look up the company yourself. Call them using the number on their real website.
- Never pay to get a job.
- Don't give your Social Security number until you've confirmed the job is real.
Last checked: October 31, 2026