How to spot a remote job scam
A remote job is very likely a scam if they ask you to pay for anything, interview you only by text on Telegram or WhatsApp, offer you the job without a real interview, send you a cheque to buy equipment, or pay a lot for simple tasks like liking videos or reshipping parcels. The safest check is to find the same job on the company’s own careers page. Every job on Remotejobify links straight to the company’s own post, and we never ask you to pay for a job.
The warning signs
- They ask for money. For training, a starter kit, software, a “registration fee” or a visa. Real employers pay you, not the other way round.
- The interview is all text. A whole interview by chat on Telegram, WhatsApp or Signal, often with someone you’ve never heard of.
- You’re hired straight away. No video call, no questions about your work, just an offer.
- A cheque for equipment. They send you a cheque, ask you to buy a laptop from their supplier, and the cheque bounces after you’ve paid.
- Too much pay for too little. Big money for liking posts, rating products or “tasks” that need you to top up an account first.
- Reshipping or receiving money. Taking in parcels or payments and sending them on can make you part of a crime.
- They want your details early. Bank details, ID or your national insurance or social security number before there’s a real offer.
How to check a job is real
- Find the job on the company’s own website, on its careers or jobs page.
- Check the email comes from the company’s own domain, not a free email address.
- Search the company’s name with the word “scam” or “reviews”.
- Look for people who work there on LinkedIn, and check the recruiter is one of them.
If you think you’ve been scammed
Stop replying, don’t send any more money, and tell your bank straight away. Report it to your country’s fraud service, such as Action Fraud in the UK or the FTC in the US, and to the site where you found the job.
How Remotejobify helps
We only list jobs from companies’ own job boards, with no paid listings, and every job links to the company’s own post, so you can check it there. That doesn’t make every job perfect, so still take care before you share personal details. If you find a job somewhere else, paste it into Can I apply from here? to see if it’s open to your country.
Find real remote jobs
Let Match me pick the ones that fit your CV
More guides
- Entry-level remote jobs with no experience
- How to tell if a remote job is open to your country
- The best free remote job sites for Filipinos
Questions people ask
Is it normal to pay for training for a remote job?
No. Real employers pay for your training. If a job asks you to pay for training, a starter kit or software before you start, treat it as a scam.
Do real companies interview on Telegram or WhatsApp?
Some use chat apps for a quick message, but a real company very rarely runs a whole interview by text. Expect a video or phone call with someone you can find on the company’s website.
Are remote data entry jobs real?
Some are, but “data entry” is one of the most common scam job titles, especially ones that pay a lot for simple work. Check the job is on the company’s own website before you share any details.
Are the jobs on Remotejobify real?
They come from companies’ own job boards, and each one links to the company’s own post so you can check it there. We never ask you to pay for a job.