SCAM AWARENESSFake check jobs
In a fake check job scam, a so-called employer sends you a check and tells you to deposit it, keep some as pay, and send the rest somewhere else. The check looks real, and the money may appear in your account. Weeks later, the check bounces, and you owe the bank the full amount.
How this scam works
The job is often remote: a personal assistant, mystery shopper, caregiver, or someone who wraps cars with ads. After a fast hiring process, you receive a check, often for more than expected. You are told to use part of it to buy equipment from a "preferred vendor," buy gift cards, or send money to another person by wire, payment app, or crypto.
Because banks must make deposited funds available quickly, the money can show up in your account within days. That doesn't mean the check is good. It can take weeks for a bank to discover a fake check. By then, the money you sent is gone, and the bank will expect you to repay what you withdrew.
What it can look like
EXAMPLE · NOT A REAL MESSAGE"Welcome to the team! Your check for setting up your home office is in the mail. Deposit it, keep $300 for your first week, and send the rest to our equipment vendor through [link] today so your laptop ships on time."
Warning signs
- You are paid before you have done any real work.
- The check is for more than you expected.
- You are told to send part of the money to someone else.
- You must buy gift cards or equipment from a specific vendor.
- The employer is in a hurry and wants it done today.
- The job came with little or no real interview.
How to protect yourself
- Never use money from a check to pay or send funds to someone else.
- Remember that "available funds" in your account doesn't mean a check has cleared.
- Call the bank the check is drawn on using a number you look up yourself.
- Verify the employer through its official website before depositing anything.
- Never buy gift cards for an employer or send their codes by text.
- Wait and talk with your bank before spending deposited money.
If you already responded
- Call your bank right away using the number on the back of your card and explain what happened.
- If you sent money by wire, gift card, or payment app, contact that company immediately to report fraud.
- Stop all contact with the employer and keep the check, envelope, and messages.
- If you shared your Social Security number or ID, visit IdentityTheft.gov.
- Report the scam to the FTC and to the job site where you found it.
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Where to report it
Common questions
If my bank made the money available, isn't the check good?
Not necessarily. Banks must make deposited money available quickly, often within a few days. But it can take weeks for a bank to discover that a check is fake. If the check bounces after you've spent or sent the money, you are usually responsible for paying the bank back.
Would a real employer send me a check to buy equipment?
Honest employers do not send you a check and tell you to forward part of the money or buy gift cards with it. If a company provides equipment, it usually ships it to you directly. A request to pay a vendor from a check they sent is a classic sign of a fake check scam.
Will I get in trouble for depositing a fake check?
If you deposited a fake check, contact your bank right away and explain that you were targeted by a scam. Your bank will likely ask you to repay any money you withdrew. Report the scam to the FTC and keep all records, which can help show that you were a victim.