The 7 Most Common Remote Job Scams in 2025 (and How to Avoid Them)

🚨 Remote Work Is Booming — So Are the Scams

The remote job market exploded post-2020, but by 2025, so did the sophistication of job scams. Phishing attacks, fake HR teams, and “training fee” scams are more convincing than ever — and they’re specifically targeting women over 30, freelancers, and new remote job seekers.

More than $367 million was lost to employment scams in the U.S. alone last year (FTC Report) — and that’s just the reported cases.

This series breaks down 7 scam types that are dominating job boards and inboxes in 2025, starting with the first four below.

✅ Summary

• Scammers prey on urgency, emotion, and isolation.
• Fake jobs often look more legit than real ones.
• You can spot them early — if you know the signs.
• Use verified boards like The Ladders and FlexJobs to bypass scams entirely.

🔒 Bonus Tip: Install NordVPN before submitting resumes — it protects against tracking scripts and form phishing.

1. FAKE JOB LISTINGS (Ghost Jobs)

How it Works: Scammers create fake job listings to harvest resumes, personal data, and bank details. They’re often posted on legitimate-looking job boards or even scraped from real companies.

Red Flags:

• The listing vanishes after you apply
• No company email or website
• No video interview, just chat or SMS
• They ask for ID or direct deposit info early

True Story: “I applied for a remote copywriter job and was asked for my ID and resume upfront. It seemed legit until the recruiter ghosted me after collecting my info.” — Priya, Calgary

Avoid It: Apply only through platforms that vet listings manually like The Ladders and FlexJobs.

2. ADVANCE-FEE SCAMS

How it Works: You get a job offer — but first, you’re told to pay for “training kits,” “software licenses,” or background checks. After payment, the employer disappears.

Red Flags:

• Asked to pay via PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, or crypto
• No real company website or domain email
• Promise of high pay for no experience

Example: Jake, a junior designer, paid $250 for a “design toolkit” to start work. The company ghosted him the moment funds cleared.

Avoid It: Real employers don’t ask you to pay. The Ladders filters these scams before listings go live.

3. PHISHING SCAMS VIA LINKEDIN OR EMAIL

How it Works: You get an email from a supposed recruiter (often impersonating a known company) asking you to click a job link — which installs malware or captures credentials.

Red Flags:

• Email is from a Gmail, Yahoo, or odd subdomain
• You’re offered a job without an interview
• Links redirect to unfamiliar login screens

Example: Alex received an invite to a “remote Amazon help desk role” — via a fake LinkedIn message. One click, and his inbox was compromised.

Avoid It: Only click job links that come from verified recruiters or apply via FlexJobs.

4. FAKE CHECK & RESHIPPING SCAMS

How it Works: You’re “hired,” sent a check to buy supplies or forward to a vendor. You send the money — then the bank flags the check as fake and you’re on the hook.

Red Flags:

• Check arrives via FedEx or email before any work
• You’re asked to buy gift cards or reship packages
• Employer says it’s an “international job”

Example: Sarah was thrilled about a remote admin job. After cashing a $3,000 check, she wired $2,500 to a “vendor” — only to have her account frozen.

Avoid It: Any job that puts you in charge of handling money as a new hire is a scam.

🔍 Scams That Trick You Into Becoming the Criminal

Scammers don’t just want your info — they want to use you to launder money, fake legitimacy, or resell knockoffs. In this second part of our series, we dig into 3 more sophisticated scam types that prey on burned-out job seekers.

5. 💸 Money Mule Scams

How This Scam Works:

You’re “hired” as a financial agent, payment coordinator, or international rep. Your job? Receive transfers and forward them — often internationally. Sounds simple, right? But you’ve just become a money mule, laundering criminal funds without realizing it.

Red Flags to Watch For:

• They skip interviews and jump straight to “hiring.”
• You’re asked to open a bank account or use your own.
• Payments are “urgent” and need immediate forwarding.
• You receive funds from unknown senders.

💡 Example: Lisa accepted a “remote logistics role” paying $70/hr. She thought she was processing payments for a shipping firm. Turns out, she was rerouting stolen credit card funds. She was later questioned by law enforcement.

🛑 Rachel’s Tip: If you’re ever asked to receive and resend money, walk away immediately.

🚀 Safe Solution: Never handle money unless you’re directly employed by a verifiable company. Use The Ladders or FlexJobs where listings are screened for fraud.

📌 According to the FBI, money mule scams are one of the fastest-growing fraud types in North America.

6. 📱 Social Media Job Scams

How This Scam Works:

You get a DM from someone claiming to be an HR rep. They’re friendly, professional, and say you’re a great fit for a remote role. But soon, they ask you to pay a processing fee, send ID, or click a strange link.

Red Flags to Watch For:

• No official email or corporate domain
• They ask to continue via WhatsApp, Telegram, or Facebook
• They say the job will be gone if you don’t act now
• “HR” profile has few connections or posts

💡 Example: Mike was contacted by a “tech recruiter” on LinkedIn for a $90K role. The recruiter asked for a $60 background check fee, then ghosted him after payment.

🛑 Rachel’s Rule: If the job is real, they’ll have a corporate domain and real contact info. No domain? No deal.

🚀 Safe Solution: Avoid DMs. Apply through The Ladders or FlexJobs to skip social scams entirely.

📌 The Better Business Bureau reports a 250% increase in job scams on social media since 2021.

7. 📦 Product Reselling and Dropshipping Scams

How This Scam Works:

You’re promised passive income reselling “luxury” or “high-demand” products. But first, you have to buy inventory. Once you do, the products are fake, damaged, or never arrive — and the “brand” disappears.

Red Flags to Watch For:

• “Limited time offer” to buy a starter kit
• No verifiable company site or business registration
• You must sell via your personal network
• Income claims are vague or sound like MLM pitches

💡 Example: Dana spent $1,100 to become a “remote rep” for a sunglasses brand. She received poorly made knockoffs that couldn’t sell. She was never refunded and the site vanished.

🛑 Rachel’s Lesson: If the model relies on you buying inventory first, it’s likely a reselling scam — not a job.

🚀 Safe Solution: Don’t invest money to start working. Real companies pay you, not the other way around.

For real freelance product-based roles, start on FlexJobs, which has a dedicated e-commerce and product jobs section.

💬 Real Wins: Scam Survivors Who Pivoted Smart

📢 Anya, 32, VA from Denver:
“I got pulled into a fake reshipping job and lost $800. Now, I only apply through The Ladders. I found a real VA role in under 2 weeks, $28/hr. Total relief.”

📢 Jamal, 27, Tech Support, Remote:
“Almost became a mule. They wanted me to process Bitcoin for overseas clients. A Reddit thread helped me dodge it. That’s when I switched to FlexJobs. Got hired by a legit SaaS company in 3 weeks.”

🧰 Your Anti-Scam Toolkit

✅ The Ladders — $100K+ listings, verified employers
✅ FlexJobs — Entry to senior remote roles, no scams
✅ NordVPN — Protect your IP and data when browsing job boards
✅ HaveIBeenPwned — Check if your email has been compromised
✅ BBB Scam Tracker — Report scams and search for known frauds

🧭 The Verified Job Board Playbook (And How Rachel Rebuilt Her Confidence)

In this final part of the series, we flip the script. We’ve exposed the scams — now here’s how to find the right jobs, avoid burnout, and apply with confidence using Rachel’s personal system.

🔒 Step 1: Start with a Secure Search Setup

Before you open any job board:

• 🔐 Activate VPN Protection — Use NordVPN to hide your location and block ad tracking.
• 🧼 Clear your cache and cookies — This removes old search bias and stored trackers.
• 🧪 Use a clean browser or incognito mode — Keeps scams and remarketing scripts at bay.

Rachel’s Routine: Every Sunday, she launches her job search in a fresh tab, with NordVPN on and her tracking blockers activated.

🧰 Step 2: Use Verified Platforms Only

Forget Craigslist. Here’s where serious remote employers actually post jobs in 2025:

🔹 The Ladders

• 💼 $100K+ listings only
• 🛡️ Manually vetted for scam-free legitimacy
• 🧭 Built for executives, tech pros, marketers, and managers

🔹 FlexJobs

• 🧳 Entry-level to expert remote roles
• 🧠 Career changers, part-timers, full-time pros
• 🛡️ Each job manually screened before it goes live

🔹 Remote.co

• ⚙️ Tech, marketing, customer service
• ⚠️ No paywall, but verify companies via LinkedIn

🔹 We Work Remotely

• 🚀 Startups, dev, and growth roles
• ⏳ Fast-expiring posts — use alerts and search often

📊 Step 3: Create a Tracker + “Red Flag” System

Use a simple spreadsheet to:

• 📝 Track jobs you’ve applied to
• ❌ Mark sketchy listings with “Red Flag” notes
• 💬 Note which employers respond and which ghost

Rachel’s Trick: She logs every company’s LinkedIn page, domain match, and recruiter name. If something feels off — she flags it and never applies again.

🧠 Step 4: Rebuild Your Resume With Scam-Shielding Language

In 2025, resumes must:

• ✅ Mention async tools: Slack, Notion, Trello, Loom
• ✅ Highlight timezone fluency: “Available in EST, flexible to overlap with GMT.”
• ✅ Show remote-specific wins: “Cut onboarding time by 50% using Loom walkthroughs.”

Bonus: Add a tech line like: Secure remote workflow via NordVPN, ProtonMail, and password-managed systems.

🚨 Want help? FlexJobs offers resume coaching for remote roles — included in all plans.

🔁 Step 5: Build a Weekly Application Loop

Don’t spam. Build a flow:

Monday:

• Refresh your Ladders + FlexJobs searches
• Apply to 5 roles, log in tracker

Tuesday-Thursday:

• Research the companies you applied to
• Follow on LinkedIn + engage lightly

Friday:

• Check status on FlexJobs and WWR listings
• Send polite follow-ups (if safe contact info was provided)

🔥 Rachel’s Comeback: How She Landed a $98K Role

Rachel was ghosted, burned, and hacked. But here’s what flipped it:

✅ Used The Ladders to search only $100K+ legit roles
✅ Switched email to ProtonMail and enabled NordVPN
✅ Used a red/yellow/green tracking system for every post
✅ Rebuilt resume with async language + security emphasis
✅ Got 3 callbacks in 14 days, landed one full-time, fully remote offer

📢 “I stopped guessing. I built a wall around my job search. And it finally worked.” — Rachel, Toronto

✅ The Final Rachel-Approved Remote Job Checklist

🔒 Use NordVPN before applying
💻 Apply via The Ladders or FlexJobs only
🔍 Research every company on LinkedIn + BBB + Glassdoor
📊 Log every post + flag inconsistencies
📄 Customize resume for async/remote-first companies
🔁 Follow up smart, not spammy

🎯 Ready to Apply Smarter (And Finally Get Paid)?

📈 Find your $100K+ verified remote role on The Ladders →
🌍 Use FlexJobs for part-time, freelance, and full-time remote jobs →
🛡️ Install NordVPN before your next resume upload →

🧠 You don’t need a new degree. You need a secure, proof-first job system that skips scams and attracts real offers.

This is it.

✅ The Ladders.
✅ FlexJobs.
✅ NordVPN.
✅ Rachel’s System.

Now it’s yours.

Frequently Asked Questions