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How to spot a fraudulent job offer

The recurring signs of fake remote-job and 'reshipping'/money-mule offers, and why a job that pays before you've done real work is the clearest red flag.

By AlertaSpam Security Team. Published August 7, 2026

Fraudulent job offers usually promise easy pay for minimal work — messaging-app interviews, no real qualifications checked, and unusually fast hiring. Two common formats are 'reshipping' jobs (receiving and forwarding packages) and 'money mule' roles (receiving and forwarding money) — both make the victim an unwitting part of a larger fraud or money-laundering operation.

Warning signs

  • The entire hiring process happens over chat (WhatsApp, Telegram), with no video call and no verifiable company domain.
  • You're asked to pay upfront for training materials, a starter kit, or 'equipment'.
  • The job involves receiving packages or money and forwarding them elsewhere, especially internationally.
  • A salary far above market rate for the stated skill level, or payment offered before any real task is completed.
  • A request for your bank details very early, before any formal contract.

Step-by-step

  1. Verify the company independently — search for it outside any link the recruiter sent you, and check it has a real, consistent web presence.
  2. Never pay for a job — training, equipment, or background checks are the employer's cost, not yours.
  3. Refuse any role that involves receiving and forwarding packages or money on someone else's behalf — this can carry real legal liability even if you didn't know it was fraud.
  4. Insist on a real interview and a written contract before sharing bank details.

What not to do

  • Don't pay any fee to 'unlock' a job or a paycheck.
  • Don't agree to receive and reship packages or money for an employer you can't independently verify.
  • Don't share your ID or bank details before a real, verifiable hiring process.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get in legal trouble for a reshipping job I didn't know was a scam?

Potentially, yes — receiving and forwarding stolen goods or laundered money can carry consequences regardless of intent, which is exactly why this scam format is so damaging beyond the lost time.

Is it ever normal to be hired without a video call?

It happens for some genuine short-term freelance work, but a full-time or otherwise 'formal' job offer with zero real verification of who you're talking to is a strong red flag on its own.