How to Spot WFH Scams: A Guide for Ontario Moms

Why You Should Avoid ‘Packing’ and ‘Labeling’ Jobs: The Truth About Remote Scams in 2026

The dream of working from home is more accessible than ever, especially for busy moms in Ontario looking for flexible, fulfilling careers. But with opportunity comes risk. The remote job market, while booming, is unfortunately a hotbed for sophisticated scams designed to trick job seekers, particularly those new to the online world.

At WFHMAMAJOBS, we hand-vet every single listing to ensure you only see legitimate, scam-free opportunities. We even use our advertising budget to find the exact search terms scammers are targeting, so we can help you avoid them! This guide, powered by our real-world insights, will equip you with the knowledge to identify and avoid the most common remote job scams in 2026.

The "Too Good to Be True" Trap: If it sounds easy, be suspicious.

Our Google Ads data consistently shows a surge in searches for terms like "work from home packing," "labeling work from home," and "packaging and labeling jobs from home." These keywords, while popular, are major red flags.

The Scam: These usually involve "reshipping schemes." You'll be asked to receive packages at your home, then repackage and reship them, often internationally, using labels sent by the "employer." You might be paid a small fee per package. The Reality: You're unknowingly participating in a criminal enterprise, often involving goods bought with stolen credit cards. Once the police track the packages, you, the "re-shipper," are the one left holding the bag—and facing potential legal trouble. The "employer" vanishes. WFHMAMAJOBS Insight: Legitimate companies don't outsource their logistics to individuals in residential homes. If you're asked to handle physical packages in this way, run.

The "Pay to Play" Ploy: Never pay to get a job.

Another common scam involves asking for money upfront. This can manifest in several ways:

  • "Training Fees" or "Certification Costs": You're told you need to complete their specific (often fake) training or obtain a "certification" at your own expense before you can start.
  • "Equipment Purchase": You might be asked to buy specialized software or equipment directly from them, promising reimbursement later that never comes.
  • "Background Check Fees": While legitimate companies do background checks, they typically pay for them directly or use a reputable third-party service after you've been hired, not as a prerequisite for an interview.
  • WFHMAMAJOBS Insight: A real job will pay you, not the other way around. Always be wary of any request for money before, during, or after the application process.

The "Fake Cheque" Fiasco: Don't cash that check!

This is a classic. You're "hired" for a remote role, and they send you a check—often for more than your initial payment—with instructions to deposit it and then immediately wire a portion of it back to them (or a "vendor") for "equipment" or "software."

The Scam: The check is fraudulent. Your bank will initially credit your account, making it look like you have the funds. However, when the bank realizes the check is bad (days or weeks later), they will take the full amount back from your account. You'll be out the money you wired, plus potentially bank fees. WFHMAMAJOBS Insight: Legitimate employers will never overpay you and ask you to send money back via wire transfer. Be extremely cautious with any unexpected checks, especially from new "employers."

The "Identity Theft" Impersonator: Protect your personal data.

Scammers often create fake job postings that mimic real companies to harvest your personal information.

  • The Phishing Interview: You might be invited to an "interview" via a generic chat app (like WhatsApp or Telegram) or a fake video conferencing link. During the "interview," they'll ask for highly sensitive information like your SIN, bank account details, or passport number, claiming it's for immediate onboarding.
  • The Email Spoof: They'll use email addresses that look legitimate (e.g., companyname@gmail.com instead of careers@companyname.com or companyname.hr@outlook.com).
  • WFHMAMAJOBS Insight: Always verify the domain name of the email address. Legitimate companies use official email addresses. Never give out sensitive personal information until you have a signed offer letter, have verified the company's legitimacy, and are certain of the secure platform they are using for onboarding. When in doubt, call the company's official HR department (found on their actual website, not the job posting) to confirm the hiring process.

The "Ghosting" Recruiter: Watch for unprofessional behavior.

While ghosting can happen in legitimate hiring processes, extreme unprofessionalism is a major red flag for scams.

  • No Video Interview: Many remote scams avoid video calls, preferring text-based interviews. This allows them to hide their identity and use generic scripts.
  • Poor Grammar/Spelling: While not always a scam indicator, frequent and severe errors in communications from an "employer" or "recruiter" for a professional role should raise an eyebrow.
  • Pressure to Act Fast: Scammers often create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to accept an offer immediately or provide information without time for due diligence.
  • WFHMAMAJOBS Insight: Legitimate companies, especially those offering professional roles, will engage in a formal interview process, often including video calls, and provide clear communication. Take your time, ask questions, and never feel pressured.

How WFHMAMAJOBS Protects You & What You Can Do

We understand the urgency and excitement of finding a new remote role, especially for moms balancing family life. That's why:

  • We Hand-Vet Every Listing: Our team actively researches every company and opportunity.
  • We Use Real-Time Data: Our advertising strategy includes identifying and blocking scam-related search terms (like "packing" and "labeling" jobs) to ensure we're attracting genuine employers and job seekers.
  • We Focus on Real Opportunities: We prioritize roles that offer genuine growth and a professional environment, steering clear of anything that hints at a scam.

Your Action Plan:

  1. Trust Your Gut: If a job offer feels too easy, pays too well for the required skills, or pressures you in any way, be suspicious.
  2. Research Relentlessly: Google the company name + "reviews" or "scam." Check LinkedIn for their employees.
  3. Verify Contact Information: Call the company directly using a number from their official website, not one provided in the job ad.
  4. Never Pay to Work: No legitimate job will ask you for money upfront.
  5. Secure Your Data: Be extremely cautious about sharing sensitive personal information online.

Finding a legitimate remote job as a mom in Ontario is absolutely achievable. By staying informed and using resources like WFHMAMAJOBS, you can navigate the remote job market safely and confidently, landing the flexible career you deserve without falling victim to scams.