Is a job that asks me to buy my own equipment a scam?
Very likely. Legitimate employers supply necessary equipment or reimburse verified costs — paying upfront for equipment to get a job is a well-known scam pattern.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Equipment scams present as remote work opportunities — usually data entry, virtual assistance, or customer service roles — and instruct new hires to purchase a laptop, phone, headset, or 'proprietary software' before starting. The company sends a cheque to cover the cost, which later bounces, or asks you to buy through a specific supplier who is actually run by the scammers.
In the cheque variant, you buy the equipment with your own money after depositing the fake cheque, then the cheque bounces and you have lost both the equipment cost and any forwarded funds. A genuine employer will either provide equipment directly or have a structured, verified reimbursement process through payroll — not ask you to purchase through an unknown vendor before your first day.
Common red flags
- Told to buy equipment from a specific vendor before starting
- A cheque is sent to cover costs before you have done any work
- Employer is vague about what the role involves or can't be verified
- Communication is only via personal email accounts, not a company domain
- Urgency to buy equipment immediately to 'secure the role'
- The equipment supplier is someone you were only told about by the 'employer'
What to do now
- Do not purchase equipment at an employer's request before your first day
- Verify the employer independently through official company registration records
- Do not deposit any cheque you received without speaking to your bank first
- Report the job listing to the platform and your national fraud service
- If you already paid, contact your bank immediately
Frequently asked questions
What if the employer sends the money first to cover the equipment?
This is the overpayment cheque variant. The cheque or transfer often reverses days later. Do not spend money you received from an unknown employer until it has fully cleared — and ideally not at all until you have verified the organisation.
Do any genuine jobs require you to have your own equipment?
Some freelance or bring-your-own-device roles exist, but even then you are not sent money to buy from a specified supplier. A genuine BYOD policy means using equipment you already own.