Work-From-Home Scams
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Work-from-home and other employment scams cost victims millions annually by using fake job offers to steal money and personal information, with reported losses from job-related scams jumping from $90 million to $501 million between 2020 and 2024 according to the FTC.
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How It Works
1
Scammers post fake job listings on legitimate job boards, social media, or contact people directly via unsolicited email or text message. The jobs often promise high pay for minimal effort and require little to no experience, such as reshipping packages, data entry, or completing simple online 'tasks'.
2
After a brief or non-existent interview process, often conducted via instant message or text, the scammer offers the victim the job. They then collect personal information like a Social Security number and bank account details under the guise of setting up payroll and direct deposit.
3
The scammer sends the new 'employee' a fraudulent check, often for more than their expected pay. They instruct the victim to deposit the check and wire the 'extra' funds to another account, supposedly to pay for equipment or training. The check eventually bounces, and the victim is held liable by their bank for the full amount, while the money they wired is gone.
4
In another variation called a 'task scam,' victims are told they can earn commissions by completing simple online tasks. After seeing small initial 'earnings,' they are pressured to pay money to unlock more lucrative tasks. The promises of earnings are fake, and any money sent to the scammers is lost.
Red Flags
- You are asked to pay for training, starter kits, or equipment before you start working.
- You receive a check for more than the agreed-upon amount and are asked to wire the difference to someone.
- The job offer is made immediately, with no real interview or verification of your skills and experience.
- Communication is unprofessional, with grammatical errors, typos, or the use of personal email addresses (e.g., @gmail.com) instead of a corporate domain.
- The job description is vague but promises an unusually high salary for little work or experience.
- The 'employer' pressures you to act quickly and accept the offer immediately.
- The role involves receiving and reshipping packages from your home, which is often a front for handling stolen goods.
What to Do If Targeted
- Stop all communication with the scammer immediately.
- Contact your bank or the financial institution you used to send money. Report the fraudulent transaction and ask if they can reverse it.
- If you sent money via wire transfer or gift cards, contact the specific companies (e.g., Western Union, MoneyGram, or the gift card issuer) to report the fraud and request a reversal.
- Place a fraud alert on your credit reports with the major credit bureaus if you shared personal information.
- Report the scam to the job website where you saw the posting to help get it removed.
- If you provided sensitive data like your Social Security number, visit identitytheft.gov for a personalized recovery plan.
How to Report It
- FTC — File a report with the Federal Trade Commission, which uses the data to build cases against scammers.
- FBI IC3 — Report the incident to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) to help law enforcement track online scams.
- IdentityTheft.gov — If you shared personal information, use this FTC resource to create a recovery plan.
- FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
- AARP Fraud Helpline — Call 877-908-3360 for free support from trained fraud specialists. Available to anyone, not just AARP members.
Key Statistics
- Losses reported to the FTC from job and employment agency scams grew from $90 million in 2020 to $501 million in 2024. — FTC 2025
- The Better Business Bureau (BBB) estimates that 14 million people are exposed to employment scams annually, with $2 billion in direct losses. — BBB 2022
- In the first half of 2024 alone, reported losses to job scams surpassed $220 million, largely driven by a surge in 'task scams.' — FTC 2024
- The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received complaints totaling over $62 million in losses from employment scams in 2020. — FBI IC3 2021
- The median loss for victims of job and business opportunity scams was $2,000, among the highest for fraud categories tracked by the FTC. — AARP 2024
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Frequently Asked Questions
A reshipping scam is a fraudulent job where you are 'hired' to receive packages, inspect them, and mail them to another address. The merchandise is typically purchased with stolen credit cards, making you an unwitting accomplice in a crime. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service states there are no legitimate jobs sending or receiving packages from home.
Recovering money is difficult but not impossible. You must act quickly by contacting your bank or the payment service used to report the fraud and request a transaction reversal. Reporting the scam to agencies like the FTC and FBI is crucial for law enforcement action, but does not guarantee you will get your money back.
No, many legitimate companies offer remote work opportunities. To verify a job, research the company's official website, look for the job posting on their careers page, and be wary of unsolicited offers or requests for payment. Legitimate employers will never ask you to pay for the job or handle money through your personal bank account.
Scammers use a fake check scheme to trick you into sending them real money before the bank discovers the check is fraudulent. They send a check for more than your 'pay' and ask you to wire back the overpayment. When the check bounces a few days later, the bank will hold you responsible for the full amount, including the money you sent to the scammer.
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