Work From Home Scams: How and Where to Report Fraudulent Job Offers

Updated Feb. 10, 2025.

You know the feeling. The feeling of betrayal. That horrible sinking feeling in your stomach that confirms what you already suspected. You’ve been scammed by a work-at-home company.

If you have been working at home for any length of time, either you or someone you know has been scammed. While it doesn’t seem to happen as much as it once did–thanks to websites like this one–it still does happen.

What Are the Warning Signs of a Work-at-Home Scam?

While it’s not always bluntly obvious, there are a few questions that you may consider. Ask yourself:

Was I forced to “buy” something (training materials or a “system”) to work from home?
Does the company have a website with updated contact information?
Could I verify (call or email) the company's information in the contact part of their website?
Are any of the web pages missing or are a 404 error?
Are there any online reviews about this company?
Has anyone at any of the work-at-home forums worked there with a positive experience?
Does it claim that anyone can do it and make a large amount of money quickly?
Was there a separate website just for applying and collecting your personal information?
Once hired, were you told that you had been overpaid and need to wire the remainder to a third party?
Were you offered the job without an application, resume or interview?
Were the salary or hourly details questionable or unclear?
Did they initially contact you instead of the other way around?
Did you receive the job instantly or within a few hours?

As always, there are exceptions. Even legitimate companies might have you pay between $25 to $85 for a background check. Some IBO’s such as Arise will require that you incorporate and buy training or classes.

While scammers aren’t limited to any particular type or industry of work-at-home jobs, the biggest culprits seem to be data entry jobs and mystery shopping jobs.

Also, scammers sometimes impersonate well-known companies to post fraudulent job listings, or use LinkedIn and other social media to approach potential victims with phony job offers.

Where Can You File Your Complaint?

There are actually six places to file your complaint, and each place will need the information for different reasons.

The FTC directs individuals to report scams through their dedicated portal at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This streamlined platform is designed specifically for reporting fraudulent activities.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is probably the next best defense against scammers. This platform allows users to file complaints related to various communication issues, including potential scams.

Have you ever noticed how scammers use similar phrases and language to appeal to the desperate job seeker?

Sometimes the same scammer will have online advertising for the work-at-home opportunity as well as a robo call telling job seekers to go to the website and sign up. The FCC would want to be made aware of all forms of communication affiliated with a particular work-at-home job scam.

In the past before the Internet, telemarketing schemes and mail order schemes were the bulk of the complaints being filed against suspicious work-at-home companies.

These two forms of communication are still being used to promote work-at-home scams many times in conjunction with other forms of online advertisement. To file a complaint with the FCC, go here.

Although large, Google also likes to be made aware of these types of scams, since most of these scams have two goals in mind.

First, to rob you of your hard-earned money and second, to phish for or collect your personal information. Google has a brief online form already set up for you to take care of this here.

The IC3, a collaboration between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center, accepts complaints at ic3.gov. They request victims provide any transaction information associated with the scam.

Next in line is the Better Business Bureau or BBB with an online form here. You may wish to still follow up with a phone call. Unfortunately, some of the harder-to-detect scams may actually have had BBB accreditation, but the BBB can expel them and give them a bad grade.

You may also want to consider reporting the scam to your state attorney general. Contact information for state attorney generals can be found through the National Association of Attorneys General at naag.org. They handle consumer protection issues and can assist with state-specific scams.

Lastly, report the incident to your local police department to see if demographics played a role. Sometimes scammers only target a certain demographic, area code or zip code. Also, once your local police department knows about the scam, they can better advise others calling in with questions.

What Precautions Should You Be Taking While Waiting to Hear Back From the Authorities?

Cancel all logins, passwords, and accounts associated with the scam.
Order a credit report and study it carefully for discrepancies.
Contact the company if possible (many times it isn’t possible).

What Will “They” Do?

Once all of the authorities listed above are notified, they will work independently and with the FTC and your local authorities to bring these culprits to justice. It doesn’t always happen overnight, but over time it can happen.

Can You Recover Your Money and Personal Information?

Not always, but the sooner the scam is reported, the better.

Government agencies rarely are able to get your money back; however, there are state agencies that can mediate on your behalf if the business had a business license. If the seller was local, then a small claims court might also offer some much needed relief.

Many times charges can be disputed with your credit card company and certainly warn your creditor about this incident and any potential additional charges.

How Can You Continue to Work at Home After Something Like This Happens?

It is never easy to regain confidence after an ordeal like this.

However, there are many great blogs–like this one–that also offer help and opinions about online jobs from home. So before you sign up for anything, read and do your homework. Just do a Google search on work-at-home job blogs.

If you're unsure the work at home job you're considering is legit, we have posed a scam checklist to help you out.

Good luck!

More Assistance In Avoiding Job Scams — Valuable Info That Might Save You!

If you have ever been taken in by a job scam (or you're worried about it – which is very valid in the work at home industry especially), then you would benefit from this!!

I get emails every single week from people who are on the verge of falling for a job scam. Don't let it happen to you. It can cost you hundreds of dollars or even jail time in some cases.