Job scams target remote work specifically because the entire process happens online — no in-person verification. In 2026 the most common patterns:
Pattern 1: "We saw your resume on LinkedIn" + Discord/Telegram screening. Real employers don't conduct interviews exclusively through Discord or Telegram. Real recruiters use email, LinkedIn DMs, or company-domain video calls.
Pattern 2: "Send a check to buy equipment". No legitimate company sends you money to buy equipment. If they need you to have a laptop, they ship one or wait until day 1. Check-based job scams are the #1 work-from-home fraud.
Pattern 3: Vague company name + slick recruiter persona. Search the company name + "scam" or "Reddit" before any interview. Most legitimate companies have multi-year LinkedIn presence, Glassdoor reviews, and a real website at their own domain.
Pattern 4: Asks for personal info (SSN, bank routing) before signed offer. Legitimate I-9 verification happens after offer + start date. If you're asked for SSN or banking before signing a real offer, it's identity theft.
Pattern 5: "Onboarding fee" or "training course" you must purchase. Always a scam. No exceptions.
Red flags that mean walk away:
- Job offer that arrives within 1-2 hours of submitting resume (real hiring takes days minimum)
- Salary 2-3x higher than published market rate for the role
- Recruiter who refuses to do a video call or has no LinkedIn
Verify before any interview:
1. Search company name + "Reddit" or "Glassdoor"
2. Check the recruiter's LinkedIn history (real recruiters have 2+ years at the company or a recruiting agency)
3. Verify the email domain matches the company website exactly (Apple uses @apple.com, not @apple-recruiting.com)
For real, vetted job listings, browse Wikishopline Jobs — every listing is pulled from established job boards with their own vetting (WeWorkRemotely, Indeed, RemoteOK).