Federal Trade Commission Warns Public About Work-From-Home Scams
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning regarding the prevalence of work-from-home scams, noting that while legitimate remote jobs are abundant, scammers frequently target individuals seeking such employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21.9% of employed Americans teleworked at least some of the time in September 2026. The FTC emphasizes a key rule to identify scams: legitimate employers pay their workers, rather than requiring workers to pay them. The agency has outlined several red flags associated with these scams, including promises of high income for minimal effort, pitches to 'be your own boss,' requests for payment for starter kits or training, and the receipt of checks that require a portion to be sent back. Other warning signs include early requests for personal data like Social Security numbers before an interview, communication from recruiters using personal email addresses or messaging apps, and job offers made too quickly with pressure to accept immediately. Th...