A new remote job pays you before you start — with a cheque for too much money
You get hired for a work-from-home role (personal assistant, mystery shopper, admin, secret shopper) after applying on Indeed, LinkedIn, or Facebook. Before you start, the "employer" sends you a cheque for more than owed, then asks you to buy equipment / gift cards or e-Transfer the difference back. The original cheque bounces days later — you lose the "refunded" amount.
Also known as: fake job overpayment scam, work from home cheque scam, Indeed LinkedIn fake employer scam, mystery shopper scam Canada
Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes
- 1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
- 2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
- 3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.
What to do right now
- 1 If a new employer sends you money before you've worked and asks you to send some back — walk away. It's always fraud
- 2 Wait for a cheque to fully clear (5-10 business days in Canada) before spending it. Banks put initial funds available immediately even for cheques that will later bounce
- 3 Never buy gift cards or Interac e-Transfer 'refunds' on behalf of an employer — no real employer works this way
- 4 Verify the employer via their real website's hiring page (typed directly, not via a link from the recruiter) and search '[company name] scam' on Reddit
- 5 If you've already sent money: call your bank immediately and file with CAFC. The cheque will bounce and you'll be liable for the amount you e-Transferred out
- 6 Report the fake job on Indeed, LinkedIn, or Facebook — this helps prevent others from being reached
- 7 Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or call 1-888-495-8501.
Red flags
- ⚠ The job was offered without an interview, or after a brief 'interview' by text or email only
- ⚠ The 'employer' insists you cash the cheque and buy equipment (laptop, printer) from a vendor they specify, then e-Transfer the balance to another 'coworker'
- ⚠ The cheque looks real — with a real Canadian bank logo and account number — but it's counterfeit or drawn on an account without funds
- ⚠ You are told to be quick because the equipment is 'on hold' or the vendor 'closes today'
- ⚠ The 'employer' will pay for your equipment cost through the same cheque — a huge red flag
- ⚠ Communication is on WhatsApp, Telegram, personal Gmail, or a lookalike domain — never a real company address
- ⚠ The company website looks polished but has vague addresses, no phone, and the 'HR manager' is untraceable on LinkedIn
Known variants
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'Money mule' variant: you're hired to 'process payments' as an accounts assistant. Money is deposited into your personal bank account, and you're told to keep 10% and forward the rest by wire or Interac. You're now laundering scam proceeds and may be charged with an offence even though you didn't know.
Last seen: 6/25/2026
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'Nanny job' variant: fake wealthy family in the UK or Australia offers a live-in nanny position. Sends a cheque for 'travel and setup' costs of $4,000; asks you to send $2,500 back for a specific 'family visa agent'. The cheque bounces after you've sent the money.
Last seen: 5/10/2026