Fake Job 'Pay for Equipment / Onboarding' Chat Scam Examples
Fake job offers ask new 'employees' to pay upfront for equipment, training, or a background check, then disappear with the money and never deliver the job or a refund.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Congratulations — you have been selected for the role. Before we can send your laptop, please pay the [amount] equipment deposit. It will be refunded on your first paycheque.
Your onboarding pack is ready. To activate your account, please purchase [amount] in Amazon gift cards and send us the codes to cover initial software licensing.
We require a background check before you can begin. Our approved provider charges [amount] — please pay directly and we will reimburse you within a week.
To confirm your position, please transfer [amount] to our HR department to cover uniform and access card costs. This is fully refundable.
What the scammer wants
To collect upfront payments from multiple job seekers, disappearing before any work begins. Gift-card requests allow them to extract cash instantly with no traceability.
Red flags in the message
- Job offered with no interview or only a very brief chat interview
- Request to buy gift cards or make a wire transfer for equipment or training
- Employer email from a free domain (Gmail, Yahoo) rather than a company address
- Promise that all costs will be 'reimbursed' on first pay
- Role involves handling money, packages, or crypto transfers
A safe response
Legitimate employers never ask new hires to pay for equipment, background checks, or training. Decline any request for upfront payment and verify the company independently before proceeding.
What not to send
- Gift card codes
- Wire or bank transfers
- Personal identity documents at the application stage
What to do if you already replied
- Contact your bank to try to stop or reverse any payment
- Report the fake job to the job board it was listed on
- File a report with your national fraud or consumer protection authority
Evidence to preserve
- Screenshot the full message or call details
- Note the sender number, email, or profile
- Save any links (without clicking) and payment details
- Record dates and times