Fake employment / remote job offer advance-fee equipment scam — fraudulent job offer email claims the recipient has been hired for a remote position and instructs them to purchase equipment, software, or training materials using personal funds (via gift card codes or a check overpayment scheme) with a false promise of reimbursement that is never fulfilled

Fraudulent job offer emails targeting active job seekers — particularly those with resumes posted on Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, or Craigslist — claiming the recipient has been hired for a remote work-from-home position and instructing them to purchase equipment (laptops, webcams, software, office supplies, training materials) using their own money, with a promise of full reimbursement on their first paycheck. Two main variants: (1) Gift card variant — victim is told to buy Amazon, Google Play, or Apple gift cards, photograph the codes, and send them to the "employer" (most common); (2) Check overpayment variant — victim receives a fraudulent check, deposits it, buys equipment and wires back the "remainder," then the check bounces days later, leaving the victim liable for the full amount. Key facts: (1) FTC 2023: job scams caused $367M in losses, median loss $2,000; fastest-growing fraud category targeting adults under 35; (2) No legitimate employer asks new hires to purchase equipment with personal funds or gift cards — corporate equipment is procured through internal purchasing systems and shipped directly; (3) Gift card codes sent to an "employer" are effectively cash — there is no fraud protection or chargeback; (4) Scammers use real company names to impersonate legitimate businesses, making offers appear credible. Warning signs: any "employer" requesting equipment purchases with gift cards, reimbursement-after-purchase promises, a check for more than expected, urgency to buy before you start.