Job Offer Scams: The Fake Check Overpayment Trick
A job offer scam hires you fast, then mails a check to buy “equipment” and asks you to send part of it back or to a “vendor.”
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How the job offer & check scam works
The check is fake. It looks like it clears at first, but bounces days later — after you've already sent your own real money to the scammer.
Red flags to watch for
- Hired quickly with little or no interview
- They mail you a check to deposit and use for supplies
- You're asked to send part of it back or to a “vendor”
- Payment or communication only through chat apps
What it looks like
“Welcome to the job! We'll mail you a check to buy equipment, then you wire the leftover to our vendor.”
What to do
- Never deposit a check and send part of it back — that's the overpayment scam.
- A real employer doesn't ask you to move their money.
- Wait for any check to truly clear (which can take weeks) before trusting it.
- Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Is it a job offer & check scam? Check it free.
Paste the call, text, email, or letter and get a plain-English answer in seconds.