Work-From-Home Job Scams: Too Good to Be True

Employment fraud has surged with remote work normalization. Scammers post fake jobs on legitimate platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn, offering high pay for simple tasks—envelope stuffing, package reshipping, or mystery shopping. The FTC reports job scams cost Americans $367 million in 2023.

These schemes follow predictable patterns: minimal job requirements, interviews via text or messaging apps instead of video, and eventual requests for money. Criminals ask victims to pay for "training materials," "background checks," or "equipment" that never arrives. Some operations recruit victims as unwitting money mules, processing payments for criminal enterprises—activity that can result in prosecution for money laundering.

Red flags: Legitimate employers never request payment during hiring. Job offers requiring personal financial information before employment indicate fraud. Salaries significantly above market rates for minimal work are unrealistic. Verify companies through official websites, not links in job postings. Contact company HR departments directly using publicly listed phone numbers to confirm job posting legitimacy before providing personal information.