How does a fake job offer scam work?
Fake job offer scams either charge upfront fees for placement, training, or equipment that never materialises, or use the hire to recruit money mules without their knowledge.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
These scams commonly begin with an unsolicited LinkedIn message, email, or jobs-site response to a real application. The offer describes excellent pay, remote work, and flexible hours — sometimes for a position you did not apply for. The hiring process is unusually fast: a brief online interview (often a scripted chat), followed by a quick offer letter.
In the fee-upfront variant, the employer asks for training material costs, background-check fees, software licences, or equipment 'deposits'. These payments may be small individually but accumulate. The promised job never begins. Sometimes equipment is promised to be reimbursed after starting, but the job start date is perpetually delayed until the victim realises the company does not exist.
In the money mule variant, the job genuinely starts: the new employee is asked to receive payments into their bank account and forward them to another account, minus a commission. This is money laundering. The funds are stolen from fraud victims elsewhere, and the unwitting employee becomes criminally liable. Banks flag this activity, freeze accounts, and may report individuals to law enforcement.
A third variant collects personal data under the guise of employment paperwork — passports, tax numbers, bank details — for identity fraud. The job always involves some form of extraction: money, data, or criminal liability.
Common red flags
- A job offer arrives unsolicited or from a company you cannot independently verify
- The hiring process is unusually fast with minimal assessment
- You are asked to pay for training, equipment, or a background check upfront
- The role involves receiving and forwarding money between bank accounts
- The company's contact details do not match what is on its official website
- You are asked to submit identity documents or bank details before a formal offer
What to do now
- Research the company independently using its official website and Companies House or equivalent register
- Never pay any fees as part of a job application — real employers do not charge candidates
- If asked to receive and forward money, do not do so regardless of the explanation
- Report fraudulent job offers to the jobs platform and national fraud authority
- If you have already forwarded money, contact your bank and seek legal advice
- If identity documents were submitted, place a fraud alert with credit bureaus
Frequently asked questions
Can I go to prison for being an unknowing money mule?
Potentially yes. 'I did not know' is a defence but not a guaranteed one. Prosecutors consider whether a reasonable person should have been suspicious. Stop and seek legal advice immediately if you suspect this.
How can I check if a company is real?
Search its name in your country's official company registry. Look for a physical address you can verify on Google Maps. Call a phone number found independently, not one given in the job offer.
Do real companies ever hire entirely online?
Yes, legitimate remote hiring happens. The distinction is that real employers never ask candidates to pay fees or handle financial transfers as part of the application or onboarding process.