How I Almost Got Scammed by a “$38/hr Remote Job” 🤯
Yup, they got me. Almost.
I’ve been on the hunt for a remote job—honestly, just a job in general. Something consistent while I build my brand. So when I got an offer for $38 an hour, I got excited. Too excited. Because the truth is, it was a scam.
And I didn’t realize it until after I signed the offer.
Crazy part? The one who broke it down and exposed it all for me… was ChatGPT 😂
How It Started 📱
I got a text from someone claiming to be from Dominion Energy Inc, saying they found my resume on Indeed. They said they had a Marketing Representative role available, which matched my background and degree.
Then came the email. A Zoom interview was scheduled. Seemed legit.
But the Zoom call? Sketchy.
- No camera on.
- Only three generic questions.
- Quick wrap-up.
Still, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. Then the next day, I got a formal job offer. Looked real at first… but a few sentences felt off. Weird grammar. Vague language. I ignored it—brushed it off as excitement fog.
So I signed it.
That’s when things escalated.
The “Office Equipment” Trap 💻
Two minutes after I sent it back, they told me to join a live chat with their “IT guy” to set up my home office.
At that moment, my gut finally caught up with my brain. Something didn’t sit right.
So I took the offer and email and asked ChatGPT:
“Does this look legit?”
The answer was a big, bold NO.
Turns out this is a common scam now. Fraudsters pretend to be major companies, do fake interviews, then pressure you to buy your own equipment with the promise of reimbursement. Thankfully, I never sent money or bought anything. I stopped just in time.
2 Big Lessons I Learned 🎓
1. Never make major decisions in a desperate or emotional state.
When you’re vulnerable, you don’t think clearly. You need a second opinion, someone (or something) you trust. In my case, that was ChatGPT.
2. You can’t jump levels.
I’ve never earned even $20/hr on a job. What made me think I’d just jump to $38/hr with little effort? This reminded me that success is gradual. You build. You climb. You earn it.
So What Now?
I’m not mad. I’m grateful.
Because I walked away with wisdom I didn’t have before. And I get to share it with you so you don’t fall into the same trap.
Use these setbacks to grow. Let them humble you, not break you. Keep showing up, stay sharp, and most importantly…
earn what’s yours.
Because earned success just hits different 💪🏽
🟨 A quick breakdown of how I caught the scam in real time.
P.S.
If you want to hear the full story in my own words and get a deeper breakdown, check out the live video on my YouTube channel here:
🎥 Watch the full video
Stay sharp, stay grounded, stay real.
Rasta White