$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
fake coworking membership scam
Scammers create fake coworking space listings or websites offering discounted memberships, collecting payments for spaces that do not exist or are not affiliated with the real location.
“work from home scam”
↑ 68%Key indicators
Usually targetsRemote workers
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create fake websites or listings for coworking spaces in popular remote work destinations, advertising deeply discounted memberships.
2
Remote workers and digital nomads pay for monthly or annual memberships, receiving confirmation emails with access codes or check-in instructions.
3
Upon arrival, the coworking space either does not exist at the listed address, or the real space has no record of the membership.
What to do first
Verify coworking spaces by visiting the location in person or checking their verified profiles on Google Maps before paying.
Related terms
fake coworking dealcoworking space fraudbogus office membershipRemote worker scamsWebsiteRisingRemote workersFreelancersDigital nomadsFreelancers and contractorsTech workers and developersRemote workers and job seekersUnited StatesUnited KingdomThailandfake coworking dealcoworking space fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Fatima, 33, a remote workers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate remote worker scams situation while using Website. Scammers create fake websites or listings for coworking spaces in popular remote work destinations, advertising deeply discounted memberships.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Remote workers and digital nomads pay for monthly or annual memberships, receiving confirmation emails with access codes or check-in instructions.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Upon arrival, the coworking space either does not exist at the listed address, or the real space has no record of the membership.
The outcome
Fatima realized something was wrong when coworking membership offered at 50-70% below the going rate for the area. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify coworking spaces by visiting the location in person or checking their verified profiles on Google Maps before paying. Fatima's experience shows why coworking membership offered at 50-70% below the going rate for the area and website was recently created and has no reviews on google maps or yelp are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Coworking membership offered at 50-70% below the going rate for the area
- Website was recently created and has no reviews on Google Maps or Yelp
- Payment is required upfront for multiple months with no refund policy or trial period
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Verify coworking spaces by visiting the location in person or checking their verified profiles on Google Maps before paying.
- ✓Book through established platforms like WeWork, Regus, or Coworker.com that offer verified listings.
- ✓Report fake coworking listings to the platform where you found them and your credit card company for a chargeback.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Coworker.com reported a rise in fake coworking listings following the remote work boom, with complaints about fraudulent memberships increasing 45% between 2022 and 2024.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Verify coworking spaces by visiting the location in person or checking their verified profiles on Google Maps before paying.
- ✓Book through established platforms like WeWork, Regus, or Coworker.com that offer verified listings.
- ✓Report fake coworking listings to the platform where you found them and your credit card company for a chargeback.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Coworker.com reported a rise in fake coworking listings following the remote work boom, with complaints about fraudulent memberships increasing 45% between 2022 and 2024.
Coworker.com Industry Report 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Remote workers, Freelancers, Digital nomads
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Thailand, Portugal
Primary channel
Website — Remote worker scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Remote workers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Coworker.com reported a rise in fake coworking listings following the remote work boom, with complaints about fraudulent memberships increasing 45% between 2022 and 2024.
Source notes
- Coworker.com Industry Report 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fake coworking membership scam
How does the fake coworking membership scam work?+
Scammers create fake websites or listings for coworking spaces in popular remote work destinations, advertising deeply discounted memberships. Remote workers and digital nomads pay for monthly or annual memberships, receiving confirmation emails with access codes or check-in instructions. Upon arrival, the coworking space either does not exist at the listed address, or the real space has no record of the membership.
What are the warning signs of fake coworking membership scam?+
Coworking membership offered at 50-70% below the going rate for the area Website was recently created and has no reviews on Google Maps or Yelp Payment is required upfront for multiple months with no refund policy or trial period
What should I do if I encounter fake coworking membership scam?+
Verify coworking spaces by visiting the location in person or checking their verified profiles on Google Maps before paying. Book through established platforms like WeWork, Regus, or Coworker.com that offer verified listings. Report fake coworking listings to the platform where you found them and your credit card company for a chargeback.
Who is most at risk for fake coworking membership scam?+
This scam primarily targets Remote workers, Freelancers, Digital nomads. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Thailand, Portugal and typically appears on Website.
Is fake coworking membership scam on the rise?+
fake coworking membership scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, UK, TH, PT. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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