I paid money to a fake job scammer — what do I do?
Report to the FTC and FBI right away and contact your payment provider immediately to attempt a reversal. Fake job scams often involve upfront fees or equipment scams — recovery depends on how you paid.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Job scams typically involve one of two payment scenarios: you paid an upfront fee for training materials, background checks, or equipment, and the job never materialized; or you were hired, received a fake check, deposited it, and then sent a portion back via wire or gift card before the check bounced, leaving you liable for the full amount.
If you paid an upfront fee by credit card, file a chargeback for non-delivery of promised employment services. If the check-overpayment scam is your situation, contact your bank immediately — explain that you deposited a fraudulent check and subsequently sent real money. Some banks will work with you on reversing the outgoing payment if reported quickly, though the deposited check loss is harder to recover.
Report the fake job posting to the platform where you found it — LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and others have fraud teams that can investigate and remove listings. This is important for protecting other job seekers. File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov.
If the scam involved the promise of work-from-home income with a 'starter kit' purchase, it may overlap with MLM or pyramid scheme territory. Report to the FTC and your state attorney general's consumer protection division. Keep all email communications, job offer letters, and receipts as documentation.
Common red flags
- Job offer requires upfront payment for training materials, background check, or software
- Pay is unusually high for minimal qualifications and vague job description
- Employer sends a check for more than the agreed starting bonus and asks you to send back the difference
- Interview conducted entirely over text or on a messaging app with no video call
- Company name is similar to a well-known firm but with slight differences
- Offer arrives without you ever applying for the role
What to do now
- Contact your payment provider immediately to attempt a reversal
- If a check was deposited, call your bank and explain the fraud before withdrawing funds
- Report the fake job posting to the platform where it appeared
- File a complaint with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- File with the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov
- Save all emails, job postings, and payment receipts as evidence
Frequently asked questions
A fake employer sent me a check and it bounced — am I responsible for the money I already sent back?
Under banking law, when you deposit a check you take responsibility for its validity. If the check bounces, your bank will debit your account for the amount. However, you may be partially protected if you report the fraud quickly and the bank investigates. File a police report as evidence that you were defrauded.
How do I verify if a company is real before accepting a job offer?
Search for the company's official website independently (not from the email link), check for their business registration with your state or country, and call them using a number you find yourself. Cross-check the recruiter's email domain against the official website.