$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
remote job equipment purchase scam
New remote hires are told to purchase equipment from a specific vendor using a company check that later bounces, leaving the employee out of pocket for the full amount.
“work from home scam”
↑ 68%Key indicators
Usually targetsRemote workers
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
After being hired for a fake remote position, the scammer sends the victim a check to purchase a computer, monitor, or other equipment from a designated vendor.
2
The victim deposits the check, purchases equipment from the scammer's fake vendor, and sometimes sends back the overpayment amount.
3
The check bounces days later, the vendor was the scammer collecting the equipment payment, and the victim owes the bank the full amount.
What to do first
Legitimate employers provide equipment directly or reimburse after verified purchase — they never send checks to buy from unknown vendors.
Related terms
work equipment check scamfake employer equipmenthome office purchase fraudRemote worker scamsEmailRisingRemote workersFreelancersFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesCanadawork equipment check scamfake employer equipment
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Wei, 33, a remote workers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate remote worker scams situation while using Email. After being hired for a fake remote position, the scammer sends the victim a check to purchase a computer, monitor, or other equipment from a designated vendor.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The victim deposits the check, purchases equipment from the scammer's fake vendor, and sometimes sends back the overpayment amount.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The check bounces days later, the vendor was the scammer collecting the equipment payment, and the victim owes the bank the full amount.
The outcome
Wei realized something was wrong when employer sends a check for equipment and asks you to buy from a specific vendor they recommend. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Legitimate employers provide equipment directly or reimburse after verified purchase — they never send checks to buy from unknown vendors. Wei's experience shows why employer sends a check for equipment and asks you to buy from a specific vendor they recommend and check amount exceeds the cost of equipment, and you are asked to return the difference are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Employer sends a check for equipment and asks you to buy from a specific vendor they recommend
- Check amount exceeds the cost of equipment, and you are asked to return the difference
- Equipment vendor is not a well-known retailer and cannot be verified independently
- 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
- ✓Legitimate employers provide equipment directly or reimburse after verified purchase — they never send checks to buy from unknown vendors.
- ✓Wait at least 10 business days for any check to fully clear before spending any funds from it.
- ✓Report equipment purchase scams to your bank, the FTC, and the FBI at ic3.gov.
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.
- ✓Keep the full sender address, domain, attachments, and—if possible—the raw email headers.
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.
- The FTC identified fake check scams related to employment as costing consumers over 125 million USD in 2023, with remote work equipment purchases being a primary variant.
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.
- ✓Legitimate employers provide equipment directly or reimburse after verified purchase — they never send checks to buy from unknown vendors.
- ✓Wait at least 10 business days for any check to fully clear before spending any funds from it.
- ✓Report equipment purchase scams to your bank, the FTC, and the FBI at ic3.gov.
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.
The FTC identified fake check scams related to employment as costing consumers over 125 million USD in 2023, with remote work equipment purchases being a primary variant.
FTC Data Spotlight 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
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Email — 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
- The FTC identified fake check scams related to employment as costing consumers over 125 million USD in 2023, with remote work equipment purchases being a primary variant.
Source notes
- FTC Data Spotlight 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about remote job equipment purchase scam
How does the remote job equipment purchase scam work?+
After being hired for a fake remote position, the scammer sends the victim a check to purchase a computer, monitor, or other equipment from a designated vendor. The victim deposits the check, purchases equipment from the scammer's fake vendor, and sometimes sends back the overpayment amount. The check bounces days later, the vendor was the scammer collecting the equipment payment, and the victim owes the bank the full amount.
What are the warning signs of remote job equipment purchase scam?+
Employer sends a check for equipment and asks you to buy from a specific vendor they recommend Check amount exceeds the cost of equipment, and you are asked to return the difference Equipment vendor is not a well-known retailer and cannot be verified independently
What should I do if I encounter remote job equipment purchase scam?+
Legitimate employers provide equipment directly or reimburse after verified purchase — they never send checks to buy from unknown vendors. Wait at least 10 business days for any check to fully clear before spending any funds from it. Report equipment purchase scams to your bank, the FTC, and the FBI at ic3.gov.
Who is most at risk for remote job equipment purchase scam?+
This scam primarily targets Remote workers, Freelancers. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Email.
Is remote job equipment purchase scam on the rise?+
remote job equipment purchase scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
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