Work-From-Home Scams
Bogus remote-work offers built around upfront fees, useless 'kits', or unpaid 'training'.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
What this scam is
Work-from-home scams promise easy remote income but exist to extract fees for starter kits, training, certifications or software — for work that doesn't pay or doesn't exist.
How it works
An ad promises high pay for minimal effort from home. To start, you must buy a kit, pay for training, or purchase software. The promised work never materialises, or pay is withheld behind further conditions.
Common red flags
- High pay for vague, easy work
- Mandatory paid kit, training or software
- No verifiable employer details
- Pressure to pay to start immediately
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Earn [amount]/week from home! Just pay a [amount] starter-kit fee to begin today.
Payment methods used
- Upfront fees
- Kit/training purchases
Who is usually targeted
- People seeking flexible work
- Carers
- Students
What to do immediately
- Don't pay to start a job
- Verify the employer independently
- Report the listing and contact your bank if you paid
Evidence to preserve
- Ad and messages
- Receipts for any kit/training
- Employer details
Where to report it
- Action Fraud (UK) — UK national fraud & cybercrime reporting centre
- FTC ReportFraud (US) — US Federal Trade Commission fraud reports
- FBI IC3 (US) — US Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Scamwatch (Australia) — Australian competition & consumer reporting
- Your bank's fraud line — Use the number on the back of your card or in your banking app — never a number the caller gives you
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Frequently asked questions
Should I ever pay for a starter kit or training to get a job?
Almost never. Legitimate employers provide what you need to do the job. Mandatory upfront purchases for a 'guaranteed' income are a classic work-from-home scam structure.