Should I trust a cheque sent before I start a job?
No. A cheque arriving before you have done any work is a classic sign of an overpayment or advance-fee job scam — do not deposit it or spend the funds.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Receiving a cheque before starting a job is a hallmark of overpayment fraud. The cheque is typically for more than your agreed pay, and you are asked to forward the excess to a third party — a 'supplier', 'training provider', or 'equipment vendor'. Banks often make funds provisionally available before a cheque fully clears, so it appears to have gone through. Days later it bounces, and you are liable for all the money you forwarded.
Legitimate employers pay after work is completed, through payroll, and through verifiable company processes. No genuine employer sends money before your first day and asks you to forward a portion elsewhere. If a cheque arrives in connection with a job you found through an unsolicited message, a low-effort online ad, or a role that requires little skill, treat it as fraudulent until proven otherwise — and speak to your bank before depositing it.
Common red flags
- Cheque arrives before you have started or done any work
- Cheque amount is higher than your agreed pay
- You are asked to forward the excess to a third party
- Job was found through an unsolicited message or vague online ad
- Employer cannot be independently verified
- Urgency to deposit and forward the money quickly
What to do now
- Do not deposit the cheque without speaking to your bank first
- Do not forward any portion of the funds to anyone
- Verify the employer independently through official company records
- Report the job offer to the platform and your national fraud service
- If you have already forwarded money, contact your bank immediately
Frequently asked questions
The cheque showed as cleared in my account. Is it safe now?
No. Banks provisionally credit funds before a cheque fully clears through the banking system. The cheque can still be returned several days later, and you will be responsible for any money you already spent or forwarded.
What if the employer says the extra money is for equipment I need to buy?
This is the equipment variant of the same scam. A genuine employer will not send money for equipment through a personal cheque and ask you to purchase through a specific supplier. Stop and report it.