Job Opportunity & Business Scams

Reece Tofaute
Jun 9
2 min read

What Is a Business or Job Opportunity Scam?

Business and job opportunity scams happen when a scammer tricks you into believing you’ve been offered a job, investment, or business deal that sounds too good to pass up. These offers often appear through emails, texts, job boards, or even phone calls — but they’re fake.

The goal is to steal your money or personal information, usually by creating a false sense of excitement or urgency.

How These Scams Work

Scammers may send a job offer out of the blue, post fake listings for work-from-home jobs, or advertise high-return business opportunities. Many ask for upfront fees for things like training, background checks, or equipment. Others ask for personal info during a fake hiring process or trick you into illegal reshipping tasks.

No real job will ask you to pay to work or ship mystery packages. And no real investment guarantees triple returns.

Who They Pretend to Be

Scammers often impersonate:

Large companies or staffing agencies
Startup founders or venture capitalists
Recruiters from well-known job platforms
Legitimate business franchises

They may even use real company names and spoof email addresses to look authentic.

What the Numbers Say

According to the FTC’s 2024 Consumer Sentinel Network:

Over $490 million was lost to business and job opportunity scams.
The average loss per victim was about $1,550.
1 in 9 fraud reports in 2024 involved some form of job or business-related scam.

These scams are common, costly, and growing.

Example 1: Fake Work-From-Home Job Offer Scammer: "Congratulations! We loved your resume. You’ve been selected for a work-from-home position earning $3,000 a month! To get started, please pay a $75 training materials fee."

(The job isn’t real — they just want your money.)

Example 2: Reshipping Employment Scam Scammer: "We’re hiring Logistics Coordinators to inspect and forward packages. We’ll send you electronics, and you just repackage and reship them. You’ll earn $20 per box!"

(You could end up helping them traffic stolen goods.)

Example 3: Business Investment Scam Scammer: "Invest just $5,000 into our new tech startup, and you’ll triple your return in 6 months. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

(No business. No investment. Just a scam.)

How to Protect Yourself

Research the company. Look them up online and verify any contact information independently.
Don’t pay to get hired. Real employers won’t charge you for training, software, or background checks.
Avoid reshipping jobs. These are often tied to criminal activity, and you could be held responsible.
Be wary of vague job offers. If there’s no real interview or the job seems too easy or high-paying, it’s a red flag.
Protect your personal info. Never share your Social Security number, banking info, or passport until you've fully verified the employer.
Report scams. Think you’ve been targeted? Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Scammers prey on people looking for a better future. By staying cautious and informed, you can protect yourself — and help others do the same. Share this article to spread awareness.