Is a job offer that needs my bank details before I start a scam?
Not always, but it depends heavily on context. A legitimate employer needs bank details to set up payroll — but asking for full account credentials or requesting you receive and forward payments is a scam.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Genuine employers ask for bank account and sort/routing numbers for payroll before your first pay date. This is normal and safe. The red flags are different: a scam job will ask for your online banking login credentials, instruct you to receive large payments and forward them (money mule recruitment), or ask for account details before you have signed a formal contract or been through a verifiable hiring process. If you found the job through a suspicious channel, can't verify the employer independently, or the job description involves handling third-party funds, treat any bank-detail request with caution and verify the employer's legitimacy first.
Common red flags
- Employer asks for your online banking username and password
- Job involves receiving and forwarding payments to third parties
- No formal contract or verifiable company details provided
- Job was offered without a verifiable interview or hiring process
- Request comes before any verifiable offer letter
What to do now
- Verify the employer exists through independent business registry searches
- Never share online banking credentials with any employer
- If the role involves forwarding payments, it is very likely money mule recruitment — decline
- Report suspicious job offers to your national fraud or employment authority
Frequently asked questions
What is money mule recruitment?
Money mule recruitment involves criminals recruiting unwitting workers to receive stolen funds and forward them on, usually keeping a 'commission'. This is illegal regardless of whether you knew the money was stolen.