Contact the employer through its real website to verify the role and recruiter. Stop if an offer requires paying for the promise of a job or depositing a check and forwarding money. If you already paid or shared information, contact the relevant provider and protect your accounts.
Verify the employer and role
- Find the employer’s website independently and check its careers information.
- Contact the organization through published contact details to verify the recruiter and vacancy.
- Search the recruiter and company names with terms such as “scam” and “complaint.” A lack of complaints does not prove legitimacy.
- Discuss the offer with someone you trust before sending money or documents.
A recognizable company name, copied logo, or interview conducted through messaging does not establish who is hiring you.
Watch for fake checks and payment demands
The FTC warns about fake employers who send a check and ask you to forward part of the money, buy gift cards, or make purchases. A bank making funds available does not prove the check is genuine. The check can later bounce, leaving you responsible for money you sent.
Do not pay for a promise of employment. Be cautious about arrangements that ask you to receive packages at home and reship them; the FTC identifies this as a job-scam pattern.
If you already accepted or sent money
| Situation | Next step |
|---|---|
| Deposited a suspicious check | Contact your bank, explain the job offer, and do not spend or forward the funds. |
| Sent a payment | Use the scam recovery checklist and contact the payment provider. |
| Shared a password | Change it through the real service and change any reused passwords. |
| Shared identity or payroll information | Review our identity-theft recovery guide and tell your bank if account details were exposed. |
Keep the offer, job listing, recruiter’s messages, and payment instructions. Tell the provider what you actually did, even if the recruiter described the payment as a normal onboarding step.
Report the recruiter or listing
Report suspected fraud at the FTC’s official ReportFraud website. Also notify the platform where the contact or listing appeared. A fraud report does not replace contacting your payment provider or securing an affected account.
Notify the job board and the company the recruiter claimed to represent through their official channels. Include the listing URL and the name or email used. Do not send further identity documents to the suspected recruiter to request a refund.
Common questions
Does a check appearing in my balance mean it is safe?
No. Contact the bank about a suspicious check before spending or forwarding money.
Should I send payroll documents before verifying the employer?
Verify the organization and hiring process first. Provide sensitive information only through a trusted, confirmed process.
Is it free to apply for federal jobs?
The FTC says applying for federal and postal jobs is free. Use the official government employment websites rather than paying someone who promises a position.
Keep going
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Sources and page information
Official source links checked September 26, 2026. Requirements can change; use the relevant agency’s current instructions.
Prepared with AI assistance. Examples and worksheets are illustrative. This is general information, not legal advice. We do not submit complaints, determine eligibility, or guarantee a result.