Secret Shopper

You’re “hired” to shop and review a store’s products and receive a check for your trouble. You’re then instructed to wire part of it to a third party and keep the rest. The check turns out to be fake — leaving you out both the money you wired and whatever you spent.

• Throw out any letters or ads offering this kind of job.
• Never wire money to someone you don’t know.
• Research a company thoroughly before doing business with it.

Online Employment Applications

You apply for a job online and get hired on the spot. Your “new employer” sends a check and tells you to buy equipment right away. The check is for more than you need, so you’re asked to return the difference — then it bounces, leaving you responsible for both the gear and the money you sent back.
 

• Be wary of jobs that never bother to verify your work history.
• Take pause if the employer emails from a free provider rather than a company address.
• Don’t trust offers dangling fast cash or sky-high earnings.

Email Checks

You’re emailed a check and told to deposit it using remote deposit.

• Do not attempt to deposit an emailed check. It is not a negotiable item and cannot be deposited or cashed.

Overpayment

A buyer overpays for something you’re selling online and asks you to refund the difference. Later you learn the check was fake — so you’re out the full amount, the refund you sent, and the item itself.

• Independently confirm a buyer’s name, address, and phone number.
• Don’t ever accept a check for more than your asking price.
• With buyers you don’t know, use an online payment service instead of a check.

Prize Winner

You receive a check for “winning” a sweepstakes or lottery, then you’re told to pay taxes, processing, or shipping fees. You send the money but there’s no prize, and no getting it back.

• Ignore all offers that ask you to pay for a prize or gift.

Money Order Swap

You’re handed a money order and asked for a check in exchange. When you go to deposit the money order, you find out it’s fake and your check has already cleared.

• Never accept a money order from someone you don’t know.