That Job That Sends You a Check for Equipment Is a Scam

Several job seekers reported the same trick this week. After applying for remote work, or being contacted through a portfolio site or job board, they were "hired" after a short chat interview, often on Microsoft Teams or by text. The pay was unusually high for entry level work, around $50 an hour. Then the new "employer" sent a check, or a digital check, and asked them to buy a computer, a phone, a printer or other work equipment from a "trusted vendor" the company picked.

In one report, a person received a $4,300 check for equipment and was asked to send $500 for a computer. The check did not clear, but the $500 had already gone out through Zelle. In another, the "company" asked the job seeker to connect a banking app so it could send a "reimbursement check" and future pay. A third person stopped as soon as the "employer," who seemed to be an AI chatbot, said it was mailing a check for work materials.

The same pattern has been reported in the news this year. In July 2026, WOWT reported that an Omaha college student deposited a check of nearly $5,000, paid for "home data processing equipment" through Cash App, never received anything, and was left overdrawn when the bank reversed the deposit. In February 2026, News 12 New Jersey reported that Rutgers police warned students about a scammer posing as faculty who sent job offers with counterfeit checks and asked for money back through Venmo or Zelle to buy equipment.

The individual reports on this page come from the public and have not been verified one by one. The scam itself is well documented. The FTC describes it in its guidance on fake check scams: an "employer" sends a big check to buy supplies and asks you to send back whatever is left.

How the scam works

1. A job that is easy to get. You are contacted about a job you barely remember applying for, or one you never applied for. The interview is short, by chat or text, and you are hired almost right away.

2. A check before you start. The "employer" mails you a paper check, sends a mobile deposit image, or offers a "digital check." It is usually for a few thousand dollars, more than any normal equipment budget.

3. A vendor you must use. You are told to deposit the check and pay a specific vendor for a laptop, a phone, software or a printer, often by Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, a wire or crypto. The vendor is part of the scam.

4. The check bounces. Your bank may let you use the money for a few days. When the check is found to be fake, the bank takes the full amount back out of your account. The money you sent to the "vendor" is gone, and the equipment never arrives.

5. Sometimes, more harm. Some "employers" also collect your Social Security number, a photo of your ID and your bank login "for payroll." That information can be used for identity theft, or to move stolen money through your account.

Why it looks real

• The offer often copies the name, logo or website of a real company, or uses a new website that looks professional.
• The "recruiter" may use the name of a real employee found on LinkedIn.
• Remote jobs really do sometimes provide equipment, so a check for a laptop can sound reasonable.
• The check can look real, and the money may show up in your account before the bank finds out it is fake.

What the FTC says

The FTC says that if a new employer sends you a check before you start work and asks you to buy supplies or send money back, it is a scam. In an April 2026 alert, the FTC also warned that legitimate employers do not recruit through unexpected texts, WhatsApp or Telegram, and that you should never pay anything to get a job or to receive pay.

If you already deposited the check or sent money

1. Stop. Do not send any more money, even if the "employer" says a second check is on the way.

2. Call your bank now. Tell them the check is likely fake and ask them to stop any transfers you sent. If you paid by Zelle, Cash App or Venmo, report it as fraud in the app and to your bank right away.

3. Protect your identity. If you gave your Social Security number, ID or bank login, change your passwords and follow the steps at IdentityTheft.gov.

4. Report it. File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and with the FBI at ic3.gov. Report the fake job post to the job site where you found it.

5. Watch for recovery scams. If someone contacts you offering to get your money back for a fee, that is another scam.