You paid a deposit for a fake job

The job offer that came with a catch

The listing looked ordinary, posted on social media, a chat group, or sent directly by a recruiter. The role paid well for simple work, and the interview, if there was one, happened entirely over chat.

Near the end, you were told the position needed a deposit: for uniform, equipment, training material, or account verification. It was described as fully refundable, usually within your first few weeks of pay.

Paying felt like a normal step toward a real job, not a warning sign.

Why “refundable” deposits work

The word “refundable” removes the one objection most people would raise. If the money is coming back, paying feels like a formality rather than a risk.

Once you pay, the company either goes quiet, invents a reason the refund is delayed, or asks for another payment to “process” the return. Each excuse buys time and, often, more money.

A genuine employer pays you to work. It does not ask you to fund your own onboarding before your first day.

Cash deposit versus a starter kit scam

Some versions ask for a direct bank transfer described as a deposit or registration fee. Others send a link to buy a “starter kit,” equipment, or a uniform through their own payment page, often at an inflated price.

Both versions take your money, but they leave different evidence behind. A bank transfer gives you a clear record of the account it went to, while a kit purchase often runs through a separate payment gateway that is harder to trace back to a person.

Either way, the item or refund you were promised in return does not arrive.

What a bank transfer gives you that a wallet does not

If you paid by bank transfer or DuitNow, you have a receiving account number and a timestamp, the two things needed to start a bank recall. Acting within hours of the payment gives this the best chance of working.

If you paid through a payment gateway or card, contact your bank about a dispute or chargeback in addition to reporting the scam, since the process differs from a direct transfer.

Either route works better the sooner you start it, so treat the moment you realise something is wrong as the moment to act. If neither leads anywhere quickly, the range of recovery routes available explains what else might still apply.

What to do next

Stop responding to requests for further payment and keep the job listing, the chat messages, and every payment receipt together. This is the job task scam pattern in a different form, and the reporting steps are the same.

Report to the police and call the National Scam Response Centre on 997 if the payment was recent. Read the first actions to take after a scam so nothing gets missed in the first day.

If the amount lost is significant, a short conversation can help you weigh whether pursuing a claim against the receiving account is realistic for your situation.