Safety · 7 min read
A practical remote job scam checklist
Verify the company, communication channel, role and money flow before sharing sensitive information or investing time.
Reviewed July 20, 2026Start with identity
Confirm that the company has an established website, identifiable employees and a careers page or credible public footprint. A polished logo is not evidence.
Treat urgency as a signal
Real hiring can move quickly, but pressure to accept immediately, avoid questions or move to an unusual messaging channel should slow you down.
- Check the sender domain character by character
- Search the role title and company independently
- Verify the recruiter through a second public channel
- Never pay for equipment, training or access to a job
Protect your information
A legitimate employer may need tax and banking details after a signed offer. It should not need your bank password, crypto wallet, gift cards or a copy of every identity document during an initial chat.
Quick answers
Common questions
Is a text-only interview always a scam?
Not always, but it is unusual for a complete professional hiring process. Verify the interviewer and company independently before continuing.
What if the job is not on the company website?
That can happen with agencies or confidential searches. Ask the recruiter to verify the requisition through a company-controlled email or another trusted channel.