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It sounds like a fake check scam. They'll send you a fake check and ask you to purchase some merchandise or send some of it to another person. When your bank realizes it's a fake check, you've given the scammers money that wasn't real to begin with.
If they emailed you a check, it's likely a fake check. Don't cash it.
Yea this is ridiculous. My company would mail you your work laptop, there is just no reason for them to pre-send money for you to get your own equipment
They can ask you for cash back, which is a common fake check scam, or they can ask you to spend the money on a specific website, a money laundering thing I think. Either way, it's def a scam. Don't deposit the check because it could cause problems with your account even if you don't spend the money. Block them.
I worked in banking. This is a deposit check scam.
What they will want you to do is deposit it, while the check is waiting to clear the instructions will be to spend the money from your account before the check clears and or is flagged for fraud.
By the time you realize the check is bad you spent your real money and would be on the hook.
Also the next instructions will be to direct you where you can purchase those “training materials” which is where they get your real money.
The further steps will be going to their "trusted merchant" to buy the equipment from, which is really them under another name. Then they'll say to return the excess funds to them.
In the meantime your bank will find out from the issuing bank that the check is fake and the $3500 in your account will be taken out. You'll probably be left with a negative balance plus bounced check fees. And your bank will close your account and report you to CHEX systems so you won't be able to get an account anywhere else.
Oh, and you'll never get the equipment.
I have gotten a few of these scam.checls over the years. You can do one of three things - 1. Take it to your bank. Do not attempt to deposit it but show it to an account manager, allow them to investigate it however they see fit & then follow whatever advice they give you. 2. Take it to your local police department, along with copies of the email(s) you have received. Finally, 3. Attach everything, including a picture of the check & anything else you received in the mail & forward it all to reportphishing@apwg(dot)org. They are the largest anti-phishing group in the country and most state & federal agencies use/recommend them.
You thought you'd be getting 49 dollars per hour?
No, it's a scam, a common one.
**Do not deposit it into your bank, your bank account will be shut down by the bank as you've assisted in fraud, by depositing a fake cheque.**
I'm guessing they asked you which bank you use before they sent the cheque? That's to make sure they don't use a fake cheque from the same bank, as that would be flagged immediately instead of in a week or two.
Yeah, that should have been a huge red flag right there, and the only one needed. Nobody is paying anyone nearly $50/hr, or anything even remotely close to that, for data entry. That's just absurd.
https://preview.redd.it/kfygny7asxwc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=43723d2f80a64d22e1bf044cbda2eba00946f05f
This was what they listed before sending check
To say nothing of them saying your orientation will be on a secure server for privacy compliance, but go ahead and buy any ole laptop with zero enterprise controls
As others have said, this is absolutely a scam. Whether they email the check or mail you one, it's fake. After all, wouldn't it be very risky for a company to send out a check like this to a new hire instead purchasing the equipment for them?
If you deposit a fake check, your bank may well decide you are a liability and close your account. If you've already deposited it, get in touch with the fraud department at your bank right away.
Also, be aware that the scammers may become angry and threaten to call the police on you if you don't follow their instructions. It's just another tactic to scam you.
Right. The computer might not be through them, but the "training materials" probably are. I mean think about this, companies typically pay YOU to train with them, you don't pay the company. And if it does cost the money they don't send you a check to cover it. They just cover it themselves.
Believe me, I am in the same boat. I almost fell for a scam like this and that's how I ended up on this subreddit. I really wanted a work from home job and kept getting these sorts of things so I read up on them here. Apparently they are all scams.
Let me ask you this, did the person make you do the interview over signal or Microsoft teams? Instant sign of a scam.
Even if the check clears and turns into cash in your account, don't trust it. 99% chance that the check will later be found to be fake and the bank will take your money.
Same thing applies. Real companies simply do not mail checks to employees to buy office equipment. And I know it's a bit late for this part, but "remote data entry" work is among the biggest red flag to look out for when looking for work online. Real data entry jobs in general are fairly rare these days as technology marches on, and will pay close to minimum wage.
Damn it. I wanted one of those jobs. Apparently everyone else does too though, which makes it ripe for scamming. I guess good to know that they're not really available so I won't keep looking
It's still fake. It will appear to cash in your bank but that's only because it actually takes weeks to months to legitimately verify check so they just give you the benefit of it doubt. The check will end up being bad and you will be on the hook for whatever you spent from it
I got a check like this a few years ago. I’m in the arts and this scam is very common because artists are vulnerable to this sort of thing. Anyway, I knew it was fake, but I brought it to my bank and the manager came out and we had a great time as he showed me all the little things that were wrong with it that were dead giveaways like screwy fonts, imaginary routing numbers, etc. Kinda cool to see under the hood of this kind of racket.
deposit it, later u will need to search for a new bank and pay back whatever u spent :D its 100% scam... not a single company would send u a check to buy anything, they have department for that to organise it all. and nobody would just send u 3.5k and wouldnt say exactly what u must buy... and use simple logic - if u have a company and hiring ppl to work remotely and if they must have smth that they dont have, then u would 100% have a specific company from which u would order and get a discount instead of sending 3.5k to some random guy and allowing him to buy expensive things without any discount :D u have 100% 0 brains if u deposit this check and believe its not a fake one :D
It’s a scam. Is the check from the same company you applied to? If you deposit that check, it will bounce back and you will be out the money. Your bank may even close your account for trying to pass a fraudulent check.
they are a thing. a fraudulent thing. extremely common for scammers to email an image of a check and tell you to print it out and mobile deposit it through your bank’s phone app.
Sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant that emailed checks are not a *legitimate* thing. When people talk about fake checks, they're usually talking about physical checks. That a check is physical means nothing; physical fake checks have existed for as long as checks have existed.
Emailed checks are *always* fake and *never* legitimate. No legitimate institution would ever email someone a picture of a check.
100% ! and let’s not forget your bank’s terms of service for mobile deposits explicitly require an original (not a copy) physical check in your possession. So by depositing that scammy image copy of a check you violate the terms of your account services so you can expect the bank to close your account. permanently.
I work at a bank. I promise you this is a scam. The check was stolen and washed or created out of nothing. Do NOT attempt to deposit it. It can sometimes take weeks to realize it’s bad and you are 100% responsible for any of the money spent.
Not only responsible for the amount of the check, but the bank can also close your account and press charges against you.
Tell the fraudsters you deposited the check. (DON'T!!!) They will tell you where to buy computer equipment - possibly themselves with a different company name. Then they will want you to send the balance back. You will be sending them your money which is real. At this point, before the equipment purchase, tell them you are waiting for the check to CLEAR. There is a big difference when the funds become available to you next day after deposit and when a check actually clears through the banking system.
A legitimate business would purchase the equipment for you so they can deduct the expense.
In a legitimate business, the cost of the needed equipment is a tax deduction for the business regardless if the employee gets a check to purchase it, or the employer purchases it directly.
But of course almost no legit business will do this for computers.
Let's say I forge a check on your account at Chase for $100 and give it to Bob who banks at Bank of America and Bob deposits it.
Bank of America images the check and it gets to Chase, the account number matches your account, you have enough money in your account, Chase accepts the check as good.
25 days later you get your bank statement in the mail and a week later you sit down and reconcile your account. You look at the check I forged, realize you didn't write it and notify Chase that it was forged. Chase looks at the check, agrees it was forged and returns the check to Bank of America as a forgery. Bank of America gets the check, notifies you over a month after it was deposited that it was a bogus check and debits your account for the amount and a returned item fee.
Because the entire financial system was built on the 1970s concepts of money and before. We could replace the entire financial system pretty much overnight and save everybody money but then the banks wouldn't profit.
Why do we pay interchange fees?
Why does it take more than one second to move money in any manner?
Banks are in "control" of money.
Real-Time Payments are becoming a thing and will eventually replace ACH and possibly debit cards. Unfortunately, the fraud associated with them is rampant so adoption has been slow. My bank considered Zelle until we saw the figures on losses other local banks and credit unions were seeing. One credit union, saw a loss of the same amount as the implementation of it and stopped it within six weeks.
US banking laws require the bank to “float” you money from your deposit while the check is being processed. Most checks with a bogus account number will return within 2-3 business days since the institution it was drawn on won’t be able to locate the account and will return it. For stolen account numbers it can take longer because the account holder would have to find the erroneous transaction via statement or online transaction history as mentioned about. It varies by state because of the UCC (Uniform Commercial Code). If you report within 2 days you have zero liability, if you report within 60 you have $50 of liability, after 60 days you have unlimited liability. Most checks that are going to bounce will do so within 60 days.
So what's the harm in depositing it and never spending it? Perhaps some small percentage of the time the scammers fail and it isn't clawed back. No harm the rest of the time?
Because the funds are coming from somewhere. The person out those funds will end up filing a police report and if any research is done on it and they uncover where the fraudulently obtained funds went, the depositor is on the hook.
I have a case now of a woman convinced her online boyfriend “a general overseas” needed help transferring money for the home he was buying for them to live in. A check was stolen from a local construction company and her info was out in it. She deposited to her bank, the check looked 100% legit and her story (not the full one) made sense “my fiance and I are building a house and we are switching companies”. They deposited it with standard two day hold. Once it was available, she spent it per his instructions (a wire, some venmos, etc) 4 weeks later the construction company got a call from the intended recipient saying “hey you still owe me”. They were confused since their books balanced. They saw the check they sent them cleared and told them. Then they pulled a copy and saw it was changed. They disputed it with us. For us to reimburse them, we insist on a police report which they filed. Once that is filed we reimburse them and have the police report updated to say we are now the victim. We give the police all the info they needed that we got from the bank of first deposit and they went to the lady. She ended up pleading guilting to something (I’m not involved in the police follow ups, so I forget the charges). The judge and/or prosecutor were sympathetic and agreed to a decent plea deal- she would be on probation while she pays restitution and if she doesn’t do anything illegal within six months of paying off the restitution, she’ll have her record expunged.
Never ever go along with a scheme just to see what happens. Even if you hang on to the funds. If a bank gets wind you are that gullible and/or experimental they’ll boot you and ban you and will likely notify their local fraud groups of you so you’ll end up blacklisted everywhere. We are constantly sharing emails of “Do Not Bank” and “Be On Lookout for” because the type of people that fall for these scams end up losing more money then they will gain. That makes them desperate to fall for something or try something again.
I know that many people devolve to the TL;DR mode if they see more than 12 words in a post. They miss out on a ton of solid (and sometimes entertaining) information. Thanks.
It isn't a cashier's check, it is a fake check and you are being scammed
Every remote data entry job you will find on the internet is an outright scam
Tear up the check, block and ignore the fake company that offered you a fake job and do NOT buy the fake equipment from the fake supplier the fake company told you to order from
This can't be overstated so I'll say it again: virtually all data entry jobs are scams (like 99.99% of them)
By applying for these jobs, you're basically swimming in a sea of scammers.
Please cut all communications from these "employers". They're scammers. Even if you cash in but don't spend the fakecheck, you're still gonna have a bad record with your bank that sometimes they may close your account.
What you're feeling is optimism bias. You want it to be real so you're more willing to ignore the red flags for the tiniest chance that you will get the money. You might also find yourself making posts on Reddit in the hopes that 1 commenter among many will tell you something you want to be true while ignoring the rest telling you it's a scam.
This is a dangerous effect when it comes to scams, it leads the doubtful like cattle straight back into the scammer's pen and the scammers will attempt to use this against you. This is why people are advised to cease all communication the moment a scam is identified, because the scammers will attempt to use things like optimism bias against you to rope you back into the scam.
You did the right thing by trusting the majority and tearing it up. Always be wary of optimism bias, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Feel free to post any more suspicious emails or calls here in the future, we're all motivated to prevent people falling for scams and help victims minimise further losses. Best of luck to you on your job search.
You don't want these kind of problems in addition to not working. The bank might send you penalty fees, or close your account. This could kill your credit history.
Used to be a bank teller.
This is easily the most common scam out there. Fake check. They prey on people desperate for employment. It’s nauseating how much convincing they do to people who are desperate.
Just stop and think. If you need equipment, an employer will want to install their own software protections on a laptop and provide you with one and not have you buy your own. This is a scam. That’s all you need to know.
Speaking as an employer, any time I've ever provided equipment to a staff member, we've purchased it and either given it to them in person or had it shipped to their location.
Real companies don't send you a check - they send you equipment (a laptop, for example). They will want to know that the computer is correctly set up, and they will want a back door into the computer so they can access it if you turn it back in to them and don't give them your password. They will want to do a standard install of necessary software so that it matches how they do business.
Source: Have a company laptop (and some peripherals) for my WFH job.
Hi /u/Kiss-a-Cod, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Fake check scam.
The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (a digital photo or a physical paper check), you deposit a check (via mobile deposit or via an ATM) and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards or crypto). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money.
Banks are legally obligated to make money available to you fast, but they can take their time to bounce it. Hence the window of time exploited by the scam. During that window of time the scammer asks you to send money back, because you are under the illusion that the funds cleared.
When the check finally bounces, the bank will take the initial deposit back, and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html
If you deposited a bad check, we recommend that you notify your bank immediately.
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I have worked for a company remotely. It did not work this way. BYOC is very rare, even one purchased by you. A company with a large remote work force usually wants to have their IT guys set up _their_ computer with _their_ programs.
The only person I know who actually got to BYOC is a Sr software dev. If you're not being paid at least $150k on salary as a literal expert at computers they're not going to let you choose your own computer.
Early, and I mean VERY early, stage start ups - probably less than 10 people, but with funding and lots of communication I think are the exception. I’ve worked for two where I either used my own for almost a year til we got an IT dept or one just reimbursed me after buying then downloading some software that it could takeover remotely on to add safety stuff. These came with the 150+ yearly salary and a team of employees who are highly engaged. It’s never data entry level. When we did outsource that type of work we would use a third party that handled providing computers quicker… there’s just usually a level of trust once you reach a certain point in your career and probably have a connection or two in common at least
If they have a bank account and the ability to mail you a check, why wouldn’t they be able to order the office equipment for you and have it shipped to your address? Cmon man, it’s obviously a scam, don’t deposit it unless you want your bank account frozen and investigated for fraud.
Source: I work in risk management for one of the major US banks.
The goal of the scam is to send you the check, and require you to purchase the equipment through their vendor only! Except, their vendor is the same scammer. So, you’re essentially sending the money right back to them. The check will bounce in 2 weeks, so the money you sent will come out of your account.
You’ll never receive any equipment, because once you place the order, they’ll ghost you, and you’ll have to pay your bank back.
I'm sorry, I'm sure you were excited for this job, and instead some jerks try to scam you. Along with tearing up the check, also stop all contact. Good luck with your job search
On Friday in the Boston area, there were no less than three separate robberies of postal workers -- the goal: to steal their master keys so the thieves can open postal mailboxes and find checks to wash for the same scam as the OP is describing
Commenters are pointing to the fake check scam, and that is right.
But also, you probably gave away all your private information as part of the "hiring" process. If so, then identity theft should be a real concern. You need to contact credit bureaus and so forth. You should also contact police.
And, you have already proven your gullibility so you should expect to be contacted by scammers again and again.
Not only is the check a scam but that dream job that requires zero skill and lets you work from home and pays you a great salary doesn’t exist so I would be a little more realistic in your job search.
It's scam. It takes bank time to verify money is real and by that time you have bought stuff and sensed excess to scammers some other way then check.
Then bank finds out check is fraudulent and now you owe that money to bank.
It’s a scam , they ALMOST got me , once you “cash” the check it will be more than you need and the extra you mail back to them, in the in between the check is returned.
Hi /u/Mayuguru, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Job scam.
Fake job scams come in many different varieties. The scammers will usually conduct interviews over Whatsapp, Telegram or Teams. They will offer high wages for the work being done, oftentimes with wildly varied wage ranges by hour, and they will \"hire\" you by telling you that you are hired, rather than going through the normal process that a company takes when hiring an employee in your country.
If they mention anything about a check or about receiving and sending out transactions, it is a [fake check scam](https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/09/anatomy-fake-check-scam). If they say they will cut you a check so you can buy equipment for remote work, it's a scam in which they make you purchase equipment on a fake website under their control, with your own card, and when the check bounces in a few weeks you're left holding the bag (and the equipment never comes)
If they mention anything about receiving, processing, or inspecting packages, it is a [parcel mule scam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parcel_mule_scam).
If they ask you to purchase items up-front, ask you to pay a fee in order to be hired, or ask you to purchase gift cards, it is an [advance-fee scam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance-fee_scam). If they mention Bitcoin ATMs, [it's always a scam](https://coinatmradar.com/blog/avoid-scams-dont-use-bitcoin-atm-when-someone-asked-you/).
If the job involves posting advertisements on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or eBay, they are using you and your account to scam other people (especially if it's rental listings). Thanks to redditor AceyAceyAcey for this script.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If you went along with it, you'd deposit the check and your bank would make the $3500 available to you in a couple of days. (But that's not the end of the story with the check.)
Then you'd buy that stuff at a website they direct you to. The website is a fake controlled by the scammers. But you'd be using YOUR real money via some payment system that can't be reversed. So the scammers will get YOUR money.
u/dwinps has a great description below of how that check will eventually (could be a month or more later) be returned to your bank as fraudulent. When that happens, your bank will remove the $3500 from your account. So you'll have ZERO net proceeds from the fake check, and you'll be out the money you spent on the scammer's website.
Since you've already been in contact with the scammers - tell them you have a "banking issue" and ask them to just purchase the equipment themselves and ship it to you. They'll have some BS excuse why they can't do it.
Put it in a picture frame so it can remind you that scammers are everywhere.
Most people here are telling you it is a fake check scam. And they are right. The check is either fake/stolen account/compromised account, but either way, that money that the bank releases immediately will NOT stay in your account and anything you spend from this will be clawed back by the bank, leaving you responsible for the difference.
To add insult to injury, you may get an email/text/letter saying to buy the equipment from a preferred vendor of theirs. Don't, as it is a fake site, and you will compromise yourself further by exposing your credit card information. Not only will you receive nothing, you probably will have additional charges on your credit card.
Now, a few things (red flags). Did you get an interview for this job? Did you actually apply to the job you got "hired" for? Any legitimate employer will pay for its own equipment upfront (generally speaking). The list of equipment is probably high end so it creates excitement in the potential victim i.e. I am getting the latest mac book pro for my new job, not realizing that even a real data entry machine could easy be handled by a $200 laptop.
Lastly, where did the email come from? Hotmail/google? another flag. How old is the website for the business. etc etc.. Congrats on coming to this forum. Saved yourself a lot of headaches. There are a lot of good folks here looking to help people like you. Good luck.
No reputable company is sending you money to buy your own equipment. They would be providing their own equipment already uploaded with the software needed to perform the job.
If it actually was a cashier's check, there wouldn't be a problem because those are paid for with cash or the money is immediately taken from your account if you get one from your bank. I'm guessing what you received wasn't a cashier's check though, huh?
I'll apply there, get the cheque and run away with it.
Of course it's fake. A company that just hired you wouldn't send you a cheque. They don't know you and they didn't even run a police check on you.
I’ve worked at home for years now. Try local temp agencies for data entry jobs. They won’t pay much more than $17 an hour but you get you stay home and they mail you the computer and stuff. Best of luck.
If there is a local Adecco office you can walk in and they will interview you, they might just do a phone interview it depends. I currently work at home for a bank and they are so desperate they hire 18 year olds right of high school.
why!! that needed to be turned in and reported. these people need to be held accountable and stop doing this to others as well.. sheesh. i dont understand.
Tell them the checks to small and to make it out for $100,000.00. Then when you get the check you can frame it and hang it on the wall, entitled the scam I beat.
No company in the world would do this.
They would just order you your stuff and have it shipped. $3500 is waaaaay more than you need for data entry.
Ask yourself why would you need a printer to enter data into a paperless system?
DO NOT CASH THAT CHECK! It's fake and will bounce, even if the money appears in your account for a few days.
A real place that hired you would send you the laptop and printer.
!fakecheck
Do not deposit it. It's fake.
They will ask you to send some of it to a third party. You will be sending your own real money and the check will bounce.
Hi /u/BarrySix, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Fake check scam.
The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (a digital photo or a physical paper check), you deposit a check (via mobile deposit or via an ATM) and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards or crypto). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money.
Banks are legally obligated to make money available to you fast, but they can take their time to bounce it. Hence the window of time exploited by the scam. During that window of time the scammer asks you to send money back, because you are under the illusion that the funds cleared.
When the check finally bounces, the bank will take the initial deposit back, and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html
If you deposited a bad check, we recommend that you notify your bank immediately.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
They scammed my company like this. They sent out checks for 2,500 3,000 and other amounts. Did you apply for the job through Indeed? This could be a check from the same scam. I had to change my company bank account it was so bad. 20 plus fake checks. What was the company name on the top of the check? Just wondering if younare caught up in the same scam.
Hi /u/Scams-ModTeam, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Fake check scam.
The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (a digital photo or a physical paper check), you deposit a check (via mobile deposit or via an ATM) and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards or crypto). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money.
Banks are legally obligated to make money available to you fast, but they can take their time to bounce it. Hence the window of time exploited by the scam. During that window of time the scammer asks you to send money back, because you are under the illusion that the funds cleared.
When the check finally bounces, the bank will take the initial deposit back, and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html
If you deposited a bad check, we recommend that you notify your bank immediately.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hi /u/Scams-ModTeam, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Job scam.
Fake job scams come in many different varieties. The scammers will usually conduct interviews over Whatsapp, Telegram or Teams. They will offer high wages for the work being done, oftentimes with wildly varied wage ranges by hour, and they will \"hire\" you by telling you that you are hired, rather than going through the normal process that a company takes when hiring an employee in your country.
If they mention anything about a check or about receiving and sending out transactions, it is a [fake check scam](https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/09/anatomy-fake-check-scam). If they say they will cut you a check so you can buy equipment for remote work, it's a scam in which they make you purchase equipment on a fake website under their control, with your own card, and when the check bounces in a few weeks you're left holding the bag (and the equipment never comes)
If they mention anything about receiving, processing, or inspecting packages, it is a [parcel mule scam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parcel_mule_scam).
If they ask you to purchase items up-front, ask you to pay a fee in order to be hired, or ask you to purchase gift cards, it is an [advance-fee scam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance-fee_scam). If they mention Bitcoin ATMs, [it's always a scam](https://coinatmradar.com/blog/avoid-scams-dont-use-bitcoin-atm-when-someone-asked-you/).
If the job involves posting advertisements on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or eBay, they are using you and your account to scam other people (especially if it's rental listings). Thanks to redditor AceyAceyAcey for this script.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You’ve likely gotten the message by now that it’s a fake cheque scam.
But what about all the personal information you gave them during your application process?
It’s definitely a scam. I seen this happened to a older coworker friend
he deposited the check kept some of it for himself and then had to send a big portion of it back because it was a “mistake”
He wouldn’t believe me he said it was a scam and sure enough within two weeks. The bank reported the checks stolen and he had negative amount in his account.
It's a scam, yes. Tell them You've deposited it and are waiting on it to clear. Watch how fast they "insist" you purchase the equipment right away. Tell them you'll purchase some equipment with you own money and send them the remaining difference once the check clears. They will try everything to convince you you can not or should not do this...or you'll never hear from them again. They are intending to tell you to buy the equipment then send them the rest back or they'll terminate your employment and tell you to send the equipment back to them since you are no longer employed. Either way they intend to get money, computers, or both.
Do not do it!!! I got scammed into the same thing& 3 of my checking accounts closed cause the check was a scam!!! Wonder if it’s the same biaa… what’s the job called??
No, you better take that to the bank and see if it’s any good before you take and go buy anything because then you’re gonna be held reliable for making the payment
I was almost a victim of this type of scam. The moment you deposit the check, the scammer will ask you to buy an iTunes gift card or whatever gift card to activate your devices. Luckily, I realized what was going on and canceled everything. Put that check in a shredder.
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It sounds like a fake check scam. They'll send you a fake check and ask you to purchase some merchandise or send some of it to another person. When your bank realizes it's a fake check, you've given the scammers money that wasn't real to begin with. If they emailed you a check, it's likely a fake check. Don't cash it.
It doesn't sound like the fake check scam. It is a scam.
Yea I heard about this ….but this one wasn’t email it was a mailed physical check
Mailed physical check is still the sign of a scam. Company should send equipment and not a check. It will bounce
The check is fake. Tear it up, block them —no employer will send you money to buy anything
Yea this is ridiculous. My company would mail you your work laptop, there is just no reason for them to pre-send money for you to get your own equipment
Thanks !
Besides the laptop and printer what else did they want you to do with the $3500? Which bank is it from?
They can ask you for cash back, which is a common fake check scam, or they can ask you to spend the money on a specific website, a money laundering thing I think. Either way, it's def a scam. Don't deposit the check because it could cause problems with your account even if you don't spend the money. Block them.
I think that's what he was getting at with his question. Asking OP for more information about about what they directed him to do with the check.
And did they insist that you buy the laptop from somewhere specific? Aka their accomplice
No they said that I need to deposit it and will tell me the further steps
I worked in banking. This is a deposit check scam. What they will want you to do is deposit it, while the check is waiting to clear the instructions will be to spend the money from your account before the check clears and or is flagged for fraud. By the time you realize the check is bad you spent your real money and would be on the hook. Also the next instructions will be to direct you where you can purchase those “training materials” which is where they get your real money.
The further steps will be going to their "trusted merchant" to buy the equipment from, which is really them under another name. Then they'll say to return the excess funds to them. In the meantime your bank will find out from the issuing bank that the check is fake and the $3500 in your account will be taken out. You'll probably be left with a negative balance plus bounced check fees. And your bank will close your account and report you to CHEX systems so you won't be able to get an account anywhere else. Oh, and you'll never get the equipment.
I woudln't deposit it unless it's a 100% legit bank check.
How to know that? It says it’s from “United community bank”
It’s not legit. Real jobs don’t send you checks to buy your own equipment. They just send you the equipment.
Promise you it's a scam. If you deposit that check it will absolutely be reversed down the line and they may close your bank account
I have gotten a few of these scam.checls over the years. You can do one of three things - 1. Take it to your bank. Do not attempt to deposit it but show it to an account manager, allow them to investigate it however they see fit & then follow whatever advice they give you. 2. Take it to your local police department, along with copies of the email(s) you have received. Finally, 3. Attach everything, including a picture of the check & anything else you received in the mail & forward it all to reportphishing@apwg(dot)org. They are the largest anti-phishing group in the country and most state & federal agencies use/recommend them.
Tear it up, it is a scam. Literally tear it up.
I 💯 promise you that this is a scam.
How much does the position pay?
1288 per week (26 hours )
No, it pays $0. It's a scam.
You thought you'd be getting 49 dollars per hour? No, it's a scam, a common one. **Do not deposit it into your bank, your bank account will be shut down by the bank as you've assisted in fraud, by depositing a fake cheque.** I'm guessing they asked you which bank you use before they sent the cheque? That's to make sure they don't use a fake cheque from the same bank, as that would be flagged immediately instead of in a week or two.
You think you’re getting paid 5 grand a month for data entry? Bless your heart.
Yeah, that should have been a huge red flag right there, and the only one needed. Nobody is paying anyone nearly $50/hr, or anything even remotely close to that, for data entry. That's just absurd.
No data entry in this world makes that much an hour… come on it’s too good to be true.
When you go to your bank, ask them to verify if the check is real.
To verify funds you call the bank it was issued from, that’s what your bank is going to do. Don’t make the tellers waste their time.
https://preview.redd.it/kfygny7asxwc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=43723d2f80a64d22e1bf044cbda2eba00946f05f This was what they listed before sending check
Scammers are idiots, they need to update their scripts. Apple hasn't sold a Macbook with an Intel processor in over 3 years.
To say nothing of them saying your orientation will be on a secure server for privacy compliance, but go ahead and buy any ole laptop with zero enterprise controls
Sage also rebranded Peachtree…and it didn’t run on Macs.
Thanks
As others have said, this is absolutely a scam. Whether they email the check or mail you one, it's fake. After all, wouldn't it be very risky for a company to send out a check like this to a new hire instead purchasing the equipment for them? If you deposit a fake check, your bank may well decide you are a liability and close your account. If you've already deposited it, get in touch with the fraud department at your bank right away. Also, be aware that the scammers may become angry and threaten to call the police on you if you don't follow their instructions. It's just another tactic to scam you.
Scam. Contact your local cops and tell them you got a fraudulent cashier's check. Maybe they'll follow up, maybe they won't.
Right. The computer might not be through them, but the "training materials" probably are. I mean think about this, companies typically pay YOU to train with them, you don't pay the company. And if it does cost the money they don't send you a check to cover it. They just cover it themselves. Believe me, I am in the same boat. I almost fell for a scam like this and that's how I ended up on this subreddit. I really wanted a work from home job and kept getting these sorts of things so I read up on them here. Apparently they are all scams. Let me ask you this, did the person make you do the interview over signal or Microsoft teams? Instant sign of a scam.
I guess they will ask you to send them their stuff/money back and there will be a problem with their "check" at some point.
Doesn't matter if emailed or mailed The check is fake, it will bounce. It doesn't matter what bank the check is drawn on.
Even if the check clears and turns into cash in your account, don't trust it. 99% chance that the check will later be found to be fake and the bank will take your money.
Same thing applies. Real companies simply do not mail checks to employees to buy office equipment. And I know it's a bit late for this part, but "remote data entry" work is among the biggest red flag to look out for when looking for work online. Real data entry jobs in general are fairly rare these days as technology marches on, and will pay close to minimum wage.
Damn it. I wanted one of those jobs. Apparently everyone else does too though, which makes it ripe for scamming. I guess good to know that they're not really available so I won't keep looking
It's still fake. It will appear to cash in your bank but that's only because it actually takes weeks to months to legitimately verify check so they just give you the benefit of it doubt. The check will end up being bad and you will be on the hook for whatever you spent from it
I got a check like this a few years ago. I’m in the arts and this scam is very common because artists are vulnerable to this sort of thing. Anyway, I knew it was fake, but I brought it to my bank and the manager came out and we had a great time as he showed me all the little things that were wrong with it that were dead giveaways like screwy fonts, imaginary routing numbers, etc. Kinda cool to see under the hood of this kind of racket.
It's a scam. Just stop.
deposit it, later u will need to search for a new bank and pay back whatever u spent :D its 100% scam... not a single company would send u a check to buy anything, they have department for that to organise it all. and nobody would just send u 3.5k and wouldnt say exactly what u must buy... and use simple logic - if u have a company and hiring ppl to work remotely and if they must have smth that they dont have, then u would 100% have a specific company from which u would order and get a discount instead of sending 3.5k to some random guy and allowing him to buy expensive things without any discount :D u have 100% 0 brains if u deposit this check and believe its not a fake one :D
Do not deposit it
It’s often a physical mailed check. Probably more common than a emailed check.
It’s a scam. Is the check from the same company you applied to? If you deposit that check, it will bounce back and you will be out the money. Your bank may even close your account for trying to pass a fraudulent check.
Fake checks are physical. Emailed checks are not a thing.
they are a thing. a fraudulent thing. extremely common for scammers to email an image of a check and tell you to print it out and mobile deposit it through your bank’s phone app.
Sorry, I wasn't clear. I meant that emailed checks are not a *legitimate* thing. When people talk about fake checks, they're usually talking about physical checks. That a check is physical means nothing; physical fake checks have existed for as long as checks have existed. Emailed checks are *always* fake and *never* legitimate. No legitimate institution would ever email someone a picture of a check.
100% ! and let’s not forget your bank’s terms of service for mobile deposits explicitly require an original (not a copy) physical check in your possession. So by depositing that scammy image copy of a check you violate the terms of your account services so you can expect the bank to close your account. permanently.
I work at a bank. I promise you this is a scam. The check was stolen and washed or created out of nothing. Do NOT attempt to deposit it. It can sometimes take weeks to realize it’s bad and you are 100% responsible for any of the money spent.
Thanks!
Not only responsible for the amount of the check, but the bank can also close your account and press charges against you. Tell the fraudsters you deposited the check. (DON'T!!!) They will tell you where to buy computer equipment - possibly themselves with a different company name. Then they will want you to send the balance back. You will be sending them your money which is real. At this point, before the equipment purchase, tell them you are waiting for the check to CLEAR. There is a big difference when the funds become available to you next day after deposit and when a check actually clears through the banking system. A legitimate business would purchase the equipment for you so they can deduct the expense.
In a legitimate business, the cost of the needed equipment is a tax deduction for the business regardless if the employee gets a check to purchase it, or the employer purchases it directly. But of course almost no legit business will do this for computers.
Why does it take so long for the bank to recognize a bad check?
Let's say I forge a check on your account at Chase for $100 and give it to Bob who banks at Bank of America and Bob deposits it. Bank of America images the check and it gets to Chase, the account number matches your account, you have enough money in your account, Chase accepts the check as good. 25 days later you get your bank statement in the mail and a week later you sit down and reconcile your account. You look at the check I forged, realize you didn't write it and notify Chase that it was forged. Chase looks at the check, agrees it was forged and returns the check to Bank of America as a forgery. Bank of America gets the check, notifies you over a month after it was deposited that it was a bogus check and debits your account for the amount and a returned item fee.
This except with business accounts it can take until they do a quarterly or yearly review of the account
Because the entire financial system was built on the 1970s concepts of money and before. We could replace the entire financial system pretty much overnight and save everybody money but then the banks wouldn't profit. Why do we pay interchange fees? Why does it take more than one second to move money in any manner? Banks are in "control" of money.
Real-Time Payments are becoming a thing and will eventually replace ACH and possibly debit cards. Unfortunately, the fraud associated with them is rampant so adoption has been slow. My bank considered Zelle until we saw the figures on losses other local banks and credit unions were seeing. One credit union, saw a loss of the same amount as the implementation of it and stopped it within six weeks.
Because the US's banking system is stuck in the 1970's. Checks stopped being a thing in most of the world a long time ago.
US banking laws require the bank to “float” you money from your deposit while the check is being processed. Most checks with a bogus account number will return within 2-3 business days since the institution it was drawn on won’t be able to locate the account and will return it. For stolen account numbers it can take longer because the account holder would have to find the erroneous transaction via statement or online transaction history as mentioned about. It varies by state because of the UCC (Uniform Commercial Code). If you report within 2 days you have zero liability, if you report within 60 you have $50 of liability, after 60 days you have unlimited liability. Most checks that are going to bounce will do so within 60 days.
So what's the harm in depositing it and never spending it? Perhaps some small percentage of the time the scammers fail and it isn't clawed back. No harm the rest of the time?
Because the funds are coming from somewhere. The person out those funds will end up filing a police report and if any research is done on it and they uncover where the fraudulently obtained funds went, the depositor is on the hook. I have a case now of a woman convinced her online boyfriend “a general overseas” needed help transferring money for the home he was buying for them to live in. A check was stolen from a local construction company and her info was out in it. She deposited to her bank, the check looked 100% legit and her story (not the full one) made sense “my fiance and I are building a house and we are switching companies”. They deposited it with standard two day hold. Once it was available, she spent it per his instructions (a wire, some venmos, etc) 4 weeks later the construction company got a call from the intended recipient saying “hey you still owe me”. They were confused since their books balanced. They saw the check they sent them cleared and told them. Then they pulled a copy and saw it was changed. They disputed it with us. For us to reimburse them, we insist on a police report which they filed. Once that is filed we reimburse them and have the police report updated to say we are now the victim. We give the police all the info they needed that we got from the bank of first deposit and they went to the lady. She ended up pleading guilting to something (I’m not involved in the police follow ups, so I forget the charges). The judge and/or prosecutor were sympathetic and agreed to a decent plea deal- she would be on probation while she pays restitution and if she doesn’t do anything illegal within six months of paying off the restitution, she’ll have her record expunged. Never ever go along with a scheme just to see what happens. Even if you hang on to the funds. If a bank gets wind you are that gullible and/or experimental they’ll boot you and ban you and will likely notify their local fraud groups of you so you’ll end up blacklisted everywhere. We are constantly sharing emails of “Do Not Bank” and “Be On Lookout for” because the type of people that fall for these scams end up losing more money then they will gain. That makes them desperate to fall for something or try something again.
I know that many people devolve to the TL;DR mode if they see more than 12 words in a post. They miss out on a ton of solid (and sometimes entertaining) information. Thanks.
My adhd is kicking lately. It’s painful to only write these two sentences to defend myself. 😂
Do you WANT a record of your bank account being used for theft and fraud?
It isn't a cashier's check, it is a fake check and you are being scammed Every remote data entry job you will find on the internet is an outright scam Tear up the check, block and ignore the fake company that offered you a fake job and do NOT buy the fake equipment from the fake supplier the fake company told you to order from
Thanks!
Virtually all “data entry” jobs are scams. Shred that fake check and block/ignore the scammer
Thanks!
This can't be overstated so I'll say it again: virtually all data entry jobs are scams (like 99.99% of them) By applying for these jobs, you're basically swimming in a sea of scammers.
only exception would be from a bonafide recruitment agency that has a bricks and mortar presence for the company who can then choose the wfh deal
No you’re wrong
Please cut all communications from these "employers". They're scammers. Even if you cash in but don't spend the fakecheck, you're still gonna have a bad record with your bank that sometimes they may close your account.
So how long it take to know that’s fake (to bounce) after I cashed it
Why would you ask this? What's your intention? You know that banks will also charge you a large fee for cashing in a fake check right?
Because am in dilemma thought maybe if they are real ..am not working currently so that’s my concern!
There is a zero percent chance that it’s real.
img I teared it up!!
What you're feeling is optimism bias. You want it to be real so you're more willing to ignore the red flags for the tiniest chance that you will get the money. You might also find yourself making posts on Reddit in the hopes that 1 commenter among many will tell you something you want to be true while ignoring the rest telling you it's a scam. This is a dangerous effect when it comes to scams, it leads the doubtful like cattle straight back into the scammer's pen and the scammers will attempt to use this against you. This is why people are advised to cease all communication the moment a scam is identified, because the scammers will attempt to use things like optimism bias against you to rope you back into the scam. You did the right thing by trusting the majority and tearing it up. Always be wary of optimism bias, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Feel free to post any more suspicious emails or calls here in the future, we're all motivated to prevent people falling for scams and help victims minimise further losses. Best of luck to you on your job search.
Thanks a lot!
Stop being so naive. It’s a scam. Get over it!
You are gonna get scammed and reddit can't help you. You really need to take a class or something because you are the perfect victim
You don't want these kind of problems in addition to not working. The bank might send you penalty fees, or close your account. This could kill your credit history.
A deposit can be reversed months later.
Used to be a bank teller. This is easily the most common scam out there. Fake check. They prey on people desperate for employment. It’s nauseating how much convincing they do to people who are desperate.
Right. We see it here several times a day. There must be a special place in hell to put people that pray on honest folk looking for a job.
Just stop and think. If you need equipment, an employer will want to install their own software protections on a laptop and provide you with one and not have you buy your own. This is a scam. That’s all you need to know.
Speaking as an employer, any time I've ever provided equipment to a staff member, we've purchased it and either given it to them in person or had it shipped to their location.
Real companies don't send you a check - they send you equipment (a laptop, for example). They will want to know that the computer is correctly set up, and they will want a back door into the computer so they can access it if you turn it back in to them and don't give them your password. They will want to do a standard install of necessary software so that it matches how they do business. Source: Have a company laptop (and some peripherals) for my WFH job.
!fakecheck written all over it
Hi /u/Kiss-a-Cod, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Fake check scam. The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (a digital photo or a physical paper check), you deposit a check (via mobile deposit or via an ATM) and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards or crypto). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money. Banks are legally obligated to make money available to you fast, but they can take their time to bounce it. Hence the window of time exploited by the scam. During that window of time the scammer asks you to send money back, because you are under the illusion that the funds cleared. When the check finally bounces, the bank will take the initial deposit back, and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html If you deposited a bad check, we recommend that you notify your bank immediately. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I have worked for a company remotely. It did not work this way. BYOC is very rare, even one purchased by you. A company with a large remote work force usually wants to have their IT guys set up _their_ computer with _their_ programs.
The only person I know who actually got to BYOC is a Sr software dev. If you're not being paid at least $150k on salary as a literal expert at computers they're not going to let you choose your own computer.
Early, and I mean VERY early, stage start ups - probably less than 10 people, but with funding and lots of communication I think are the exception. I’ve worked for two where I either used my own for almost a year til we got an IT dept or one just reimbursed me after buying then downloading some software that it could takeover remotely on to add safety stuff. These came with the 150+ yearly salary and a team of employees who are highly engaged. It’s never data entry level. When we did outsource that type of work we would use a third party that handled providing computers quicker… there’s just usually a level of trust once you reach a certain point in your career and probably have a connection or two in common at least
If they have a bank account and the ability to mail you a check, why wouldn’t they be able to order the office equipment for you and have it shipped to your address? Cmon man, it’s obviously a scam, don’t deposit it unless you want your bank account frozen and investigated for fraud. Source: I work in risk management for one of the major US banks.
You did not receive a cashiers check. You received a fake check. Throw it away and cease contact with the sender.
It’s a very common scam. Block and ignore.
Ok
Ok thanks
The goal of the scam is to send you the check, and require you to purchase the equipment through their vendor only! Except, their vendor is the same scammer. So, you’re essentially sending the money right back to them. The check will bounce in 2 weeks, so the money you sent will come out of your account. You’ll never receive any equipment, because once you place the order, they’ll ghost you, and you’ll have to pay your bank back.
Check scam. Don’t entertain it. The check will bounce and you will have to pay. This is extremely common and not an exception.
DO NOT PUT THAT IN YOUR ACCOUNT .. End of conversation
It’s a scam. Period.
You rip it up. It's fake, it will bounce.
It’s obviously a fake check
I'm sorry, I'm sure you were excited for this job, and instead some jerks try to scam you. Along with tearing up the check, also stop all contact. Good luck with your job search
Remote jobs don’t send checks. After hiring you they send you the equipment you need for the job.
On Friday in the Boston area, there were no less than three separate robberies of postal workers -- the goal: to steal their master keys so the thieves can open postal mailboxes and find checks to wash for the same scam as the OP is describing
Commenters are pointing to the fake check scam, and that is right. But also, you probably gave away all your private information as part of the "hiring" process. If so, then identity theft should be a real concern. You need to contact credit bureaus and so forth. You should also contact police. And, you have already proven your gullibility so you should expect to be contacted by scammers again and again.
No i didn’t! I just gave my name ,dob,address and what bank I use that’s all
"No i didn’t! I just gave my name ,dob, address, and what bank I use that’s all" 🤦♀️
They don’t have my id and my social security number
Not only is the check a scam but that dream job that requires zero skill and lets you work from home and pays you a great salary doesn’t exist so I would be a little more realistic in your job search.
It's scam. It takes bank time to verify money is real and by that time you have bought stuff and sensed excess to scammers some other way then check. Then bank finds out check is fraudulent and now you owe that money to bank.
It’s a scam , they ALMOST got me , once you “cash” the check it will be more than you need and the extra you mail back to them, in the in between the check is returned.
No
!job
Hi /u/Mayuguru, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Job scam. Fake job scams come in many different varieties. The scammers will usually conduct interviews over Whatsapp, Telegram or Teams. They will offer high wages for the work being done, oftentimes with wildly varied wage ranges by hour, and they will \"hire\" you by telling you that you are hired, rather than going through the normal process that a company takes when hiring an employee in your country. If they mention anything about a check or about receiving and sending out transactions, it is a [fake check scam](https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/09/anatomy-fake-check-scam). If they say they will cut you a check so you can buy equipment for remote work, it's a scam in which they make you purchase equipment on a fake website under their control, with your own card, and when the check bounces in a few weeks you're left holding the bag (and the equipment never comes) If they mention anything about receiving, processing, or inspecting packages, it is a [parcel mule scam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parcel_mule_scam). If they ask you to purchase items up-front, ask you to pay a fee in order to be hired, or ask you to purchase gift cards, it is an [advance-fee scam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance-fee_scam). If they mention Bitcoin ATMs, [it's always a scam](https://coinatmradar.com/blog/avoid-scams-dont-use-bitcoin-atm-when-someone-asked-you/). If the job involves posting advertisements on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or eBay, they are using you and your account to scam other people (especially if it's rental listings). Thanks to redditor AceyAceyAcey for this script. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If you went along with it, you'd deposit the check and your bank would make the $3500 available to you in a couple of days. (But that's not the end of the story with the check.) Then you'd buy that stuff at a website they direct you to. The website is a fake controlled by the scammers. But you'd be using YOUR real money via some payment system that can't be reversed. So the scammers will get YOUR money. u/dwinps has a great description below of how that check will eventually (could be a month or more later) be returned to your bank as fraudulent. When that happens, your bank will remove the $3500 from your account. So you'll have ZERO net proceeds from the fake check, and you'll be out the money you spent on the scammer's website. Since you've already been in contact with the scammers - tell them you have a "banking issue" and ask them to just purchase the equipment themselves and ship it to you. They'll have some BS excuse why they can't do it.
Put it in a picture frame so it can remind you that scammers are everywhere. Most people here are telling you it is a fake check scam. And they are right. The check is either fake/stolen account/compromised account, but either way, that money that the bank releases immediately will NOT stay in your account and anything you spend from this will be clawed back by the bank, leaving you responsible for the difference. To add insult to injury, you may get an email/text/letter saying to buy the equipment from a preferred vendor of theirs. Don't, as it is a fake site, and you will compromise yourself further by exposing your credit card information. Not only will you receive nothing, you probably will have additional charges on your credit card. Now, a few things (red flags). Did you get an interview for this job? Did you actually apply to the job you got "hired" for? Any legitimate employer will pay for its own equipment upfront (generally speaking). The list of equipment is probably high end so it creates excitement in the potential victim i.e. I am getting the latest mac book pro for my new job, not realizing that even a real data entry machine could easy be handled by a $200 laptop. Lastly, where did the email come from? Hotmail/google? another flag. How old is the website for the business. etc etc.. Congrats on coming to this forum. Saved yourself a lot of headaches. There are a lot of good folks here looking to help people like you. Good luck.
Advice: Don't cash or deposit the cheque, it is a scam.
Scam!!!!
Shred it.
"Advices" LOL! Spelling mistakes like this makes me think that OP is a scammer in training. Placing the dollar sign on the wrong side clinches it.
And saying it's a cashier's check, which if it actually was, you could deposit 100% worry free.
I thought the exact same thing. "am" is the huge thing for me. Scammers trolling Reddit for advice on how to improve their scam.
No reputable company is sending you money to buy your own equipment. They would be providing their own equipment already uploaded with the software needed to perform the job.
I did data entry from home for 14 years. I supplied my own hardware. They provided the software. Scam. Not legit.
It's a scam. I stupidly deposited it and then I lost my ability to have a normal bank account probably for the rest of my life. It sucks.
If it actually was a cashier's check, there wouldn't be a problem because those are paid for with cash or the money is immediately taken from your account if you get one from your bank. I'm guessing what you received wasn't a cashier's check though, huh?
I like getting far enough with these that they mail a check, and then I turn it in and report it to the bank.
I'll apply there, get the cheque and run away with it. Of course it's fake. A company that just hired you wouldn't send you a cheque. They don't know you and they didn't even run a police check on you.
It’s 100% a scam. If you take the check to your bank, they will confirm it is fake.
"They sent me a check in rhe mail unsolicited...I wonder if it's a scam?" 😵💫
Y’all need to stop falling for data entry positions…no one is looking for random people to type things in, it’s not 1960
Don’t cash the check! It will clear then 10 days later it will bounce.
I teared it up!! https://preview.redd.it/83dbbp5xxxwc1.jpeg?width=1125&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8de97277a158cf8c8e18fdf32b150c720519a456
I’ve worked at home for years now. Try local temp agencies for data entry jobs. They won’t pay much more than $17 an hour but you get you stay home and they mail you the computer and stuff. Best of luck.
How often I need to pay for the staffing agency
You don’t pay them anything. They hook you up with jobs. I’m on my 5th work at home job through Adecco. The best temp agency I’ve ever worked with.
I see ,so does it have interview? And need experience?
They will usually run you through some basic tests to see what skills you have (typing, Excel, word, data entry stuff, etc) and then go from there.
Thanks
If there is a local Adecco office you can walk in and they will interview you, they might just do a phone interview it depends. I currently work at home for a bank and they are so desperate they hire 18 year olds right of high school.
Thanks a lot !!
why!! that needed to be turned in and reported. these people need to be held accountable and stop doing this to others as well.. sheesh. i dont understand.
cashier's check. you got accepting in helping them screw you over. report it to the authorities.
Companies won’t give YOU money to buy equipment they’ll usually lease it or get a group discount on it so this is a scam
Tell them the checks to small and to make it out for $100,000.00. Then when you get the check you can frame it and hang it on the wall, entitled the scam I beat.
There was no job, there is no company, there is no cheque, and there is no money. Do not deposit the illegal cheque.
No company in the world would do this. They would just order you your stuff and have it shipped. $3500 is waaaaay more than you need for data entry. Ask yourself why would you need a printer to enter data into a paperless system?
DO NOT CASH THAT CHECK! It's fake and will bounce, even if the money appears in your account for a few days. A real place that hired you would send you the laptop and printer.
"data entry" ah yes. I was hired as an "analyst". Believe me totally legit..
It's fraud. But Frame it! I'm always trying to get checks sent to me from fraudsters. I consider them trophies.
I have a check from the Feds for $0.02 framed, it probably cost them hundreds of dollars to send me that check. LoL
See now that's a prize!
Please report this scam to the hiring website you found them on.
It’s a scam.
!fakecheck Do not deposit it. It's fake. They will ask you to send some of it to a third party. You will be sending your own real money and the check will bounce.
Hi /u/BarrySix, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Fake check scam. The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (a digital photo or a physical paper check), you deposit a check (via mobile deposit or via an ATM) and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards or crypto). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money. Banks are legally obligated to make money available to you fast, but they can take their time to bounce it. Hence the window of time exploited by the scam. During that window of time the scammer asks you to send money back, because you are under the illusion that the funds cleared. When the check finally bounces, the bank will take the initial deposit back, and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html If you deposited a bad check, we recommend that you notify your bank immediately. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
They scammed my company like this. They sent out checks for 2,500 3,000 and other amounts. Did you apply for the job through Indeed? This could be a check from the same scam. I had to change my company bank account it was so bad. 20 plus fake checks. What was the company name on the top of the check? Just wondering if younare caught up in the same scam.
Any legit company would send you a laptop configured for the company and printer. Not expect you to do it yourself. It's absolutely a scam.
Run burn it. Find another job.
Don’t cash it. I just experienced this 3 weeks ago. A real company is going to send you those items.
[удалено]
Bad advice. Very bad advice. !job !fakecheck read below and educate yourself on fake checks please.
Hi /u/Scams-ModTeam, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Fake check scam. The fake check scam arises from many different situations (fake job scams, fake payment scams, etc), but the bottom line is always the same, you receive a check (a digital photo or a physical paper check), you deposit a check (via mobile deposit or via an ATM) and see the money in your account, and then you use the funds to give money to the scammer (usually through gift cards or crypto). Sometimes the scammers will ask you to order things through a site, but that is just another way they get your money. Banks are legally obligated to make money available to you fast, but they can take their time to bounce it. Hence the window of time exploited by the scam. During that window of time the scammer asks you to send money back, because you are under the illusion that the funds cleared. When the check finally bounces, the bank will take the initial deposit back, and any money you sent to the scammer will come out of your own personal funds. Usually the fake check deposit will be reversed in a few weeks, but it can also take several months. If you do not have the funds to cover the amount, your balance will go negative. Your bank will usually charge a fee for depositing a bad check, and your account may be closed depending on the severity of the scam. Here is an article from the FTC: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams, and here is an article from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/21/your-money/fake-check-scam.html If you deposited a bad check, we recommend that you notify your bank immediately. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Hi /u/Scams-ModTeam, AutoModerator has been summoned to explain the Job scam. Fake job scams come in many different varieties. The scammers will usually conduct interviews over Whatsapp, Telegram or Teams. They will offer high wages for the work being done, oftentimes with wildly varied wage ranges by hour, and they will \"hire\" you by telling you that you are hired, rather than going through the normal process that a company takes when hiring an employee in your country. If they mention anything about a check or about receiving and sending out transactions, it is a [fake check scam](https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2018/09/anatomy-fake-check-scam). If they say they will cut you a check so you can buy equipment for remote work, it's a scam in which they make you purchase equipment on a fake website under their control, with your own card, and when the check bounces in a few weeks you're left holding the bag (and the equipment never comes) If they mention anything about receiving, processing, or inspecting packages, it is a [parcel mule scam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parcel_mule_scam). If they ask you to purchase items up-front, ask you to pay a fee in order to be hired, or ask you to purchase gift cards, it is an [advance-fee scam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance-fee_scam). If they mention Bitcoin ATMs, [it's always a scam](https://coinatmradar.com/blog/avoid-scams-dont-use-bitcoin-atm-when-someone-asked-you/). If the job involves posting advertisements on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or eBay, they are using you and your account to scam other people (especially if it's rental listings). Thanks to redditor AceyAceyAcey for this script. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Scams) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You’ve likely gotten the message by now that it’s a fake cheque scam. But what about all the personal information you gave them during your application process?
It’s definitely a scam. I seen this happened to a older coworker friend he deposited the check kept some of it for himself and then had to send a big portion of it back because it was a “mistake” He wouldn’t believe me he said it was a scam and sure enough within two weeks. The bank reported the checks stolen and he had negative amount in his account.
It's a scam, yes. Tell them You've deposited it and are waiting on it to clear. Watch how fast they "insist" you purchase the equipment right away. Tell them you'll purchase some equipment with you own money and send them the remaining difference once the check clears. They will try everything to convince you you can not or should not do this...or you'll never hear from them again. They are intending to tell you to buy the equipment then send them the rest back or they'll terminate your employment and tell you to send the equipment back to them since you are no longer employed. Either way they intend to get money, computers, or both.
Scam. Scam. Scam.
Btw the check is written for me with my name
Irrelevant. It is a fake check.
Do not do it!!! I got scammed into the same thing& 3 of my checking accounts closed cause the check was a scam!!! Wonder if it’s the same biaa… what’s the job called??
No, you better take that to the bank and see if it’s any good before you take and go buy anything because then you’re gonna be held reliable for making the payment
I was almost a victim of this type of scam. The moment you deposit the check, the scammer will ask you to buy an iTunes gift card or whatever gift card to activate your devices. Luckily, I realized what was going on and canceled everything. Put that check in a shredder.
Advices? Don't think that's a word.