HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is warning job seekers to scrutinize online employment offers as work-from-home scams and fraudulent recruiting schemes continue targeting students, recent graduates, and others searching for work.
The warning comes as many Pennsylvanians begin seeking summer employment and post-graduation job opportunities, periods that scammers frequently exploit through fake job postings designed to steal money, financial information, or personal data.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, many schemes advertise flexible schedules, remote work, or unusually high pay to attract applicants.
Some scams involve so-called package reshipping jobs in which workers are instructed to receive goods at their homes and forward them elsewhere. Authorities say the merchandise is often purchased using stolen credit cards, leaving participants unknowingly involved in criminal activity while never receiving promised compensation.
Other schemes promise profits from purchasing discounted luxury goods for resale. Victims are instructed to send money for products that either never arrive or are replaced with worthless items.
Sunday urged consumers to thoroughly research employers before accepting offers.
“If a job posting seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Sunday said. “Remember, a legitimate employer will never ask for payment upfront as part of the hiring process.”
State officials highlighted several recent complaints received from Pennsylvanians.
In one case, a woman was offered a remote position and told she needed to purchase and send two $200 gift cards so company software could be installed on a laptop she would receive. She became suspicious when the employer later indicated she would be paid in cryptocurrency and ended contact.
In another instance, a person accepted what appeared to be a legitimate work-from-home position with a medical technology company and received a check to purchase supplies. The bank later determined the check was fraudulent and held the individual responsible for the funds.
Authorities also described a scam targeting an applicant who sought a virtual assistant position advertised on Indeed. After receiving a job offer following an interview conducted entirely through email and text messages, the applicant was sent a check and instructed to return a portion of the money. Further research revealed the company was legitimate, but the applicant had been communicating with an impersonator.
The Attorney General’s Office advises job seekers never to pay for employment opportunities, never to deposit checks and send money back to prospective employers, and to independently verify job offers through official company contact information.
Officials also recommend carefully reviewing email addresses, noting that legitimate employers generally use corporate domains rather than free email services. Government agencies, they noted, use email addresses ending in “.gov.”
Pennsylvanians who believe they have been targeted by an employment scam can file a complaint through the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at Pennsylvania Scams Complaint Form, by emailing consumers@attorneygeneral.gov, or by calling 1-800-441-2555.
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