How to Check If a VA Agency or Hiring Site Is Legit
There is no trustworthy blacklist of “scam sites” for virtual assistants (VAs), and you should be wary of any page that claims to have one. Scammers change domains and names within days, and labelling a real business a scam without proof can be defamatory. A better defence is a repeatable way to check any agency, job board or freelancer yourself.
This guide gives you that checklist, then summarises the scam types that regulators and consumer groups have documented, and shows where to report them. It builds on our general guide to virtual assistant scams and red flags.
Why we do not publish a list of scam sites
- Sites rotate. A fraudulent domain can vanish and reappear under a new name. A list is out of date almost at once.
- Impersonation is common. Scammers copy the names and branding of real companies. The BBB has warned that fraudsters steal the identities of real freelancers and pose as them (Richmond News). Blacklisting a name can punish the real business being copied.
- Evidence matters. Calling a named business a scam requires proof, such as a regulator action or a court finding. Opinion and complaints are not the same thing.
So instead of a list, use the checks below, and rely on official reporting databases for current warnings.
The 10-point legitimacy check
Work through these before you pay or share any access. One failed check is a reason to pause. Two or more is a reason to walk away.
1. Find the business independently
Search for the company name together with words like “scam”, “review” or “complaint”. A BBB official quoted in a report on FTC job-scam data urges researching a company before sharing personal information or accepting an offer (WKNO). The same applies when you are the one hiring.
2. Check the business registration
A real agency is a registered business.
- US: the Secretary of State business search for the state it claims to be in.
- UK: Companies House.
- Canada: the federal or provincial corporate registry.
- Australia: the ABN Lookup.
- Anywhere: an international business database such as OpenCorporates.
Check that the registered name, address and status match the website.
3. Look at the domain
Use a domain lookup (for example ICANN Lookup) to see when the domain was registered. A “ten-year-old agency” on a domain registered last month is a red flag. Watch for near-copies of known brands, with an extra word, a hyphen or a different ending. Type the address yourself rather than clicking a link from an email.
4. Match the email domain
A recruiter writing from a free webmail address while claiming to represent a company deserves suspicion. Raptive’s help centre, for example, warns that scammers use real staff names with fake email accounts and tells people to verify addresses against official company domains (Raptive Help).
5. Read independent reviews, not just testimonials
Testimonials on the company’s own site prove nothing. Look for reviews on independent platforms and in community forums, and be wary of a wall of near-identical five-star reviews. Read the negative ones for patterns.
6. Check for a real address and people
Look for a verifiable physical address, a named leadership team with real professional profiles, and a working phone number. Check that team photos are not stock images by running a reverse image search.
7. Look at how you are asked to pay
Treat these as warning signs:
- Gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers or prepaid cards
- Large upfront fees or “deposits”
- Pressure to pay immediately
- A request to move the payment or the chat off the platform
Job-seeker guidance says legitimate employers do not charge applicants for training, equipment or placement (CEAS). Similar logic applies to hirers: pay only through protected channels, and avoid paying full amounts up front. One review of freelance marketplace scams notes that professionals rarely ask for full prepayment and usually accept milestone payments (Lemon.io).
8. Ask for a video call
Check that the person or the agency representative will appear on video. The BBB advises video interviews and checking a freelancer’s identity through a LinkedIn profile, portfolio or social media (Richmond News).
9. Read the contract
Look for clear scope, pay, notice period, confidentiality and exit terms, and for any minimum commitment or cancellation fee. Walk away from an agency that will not give you the terms in writing. See our contract checklist.
10. Start with a small paid trial
A few hours of paid work with non-sensitive material tells you more than any profile. Give no account access until you have an agreement and a trial result. See how to give a VA account access safely.
Documented scam types
These come from regulators, consumer groups and news reports. Some target people looking for VA work, and some target people hiring them. Both matter, because scammers use the same tricks in both directions, and a “VA” who has been scammed may become unreliable.
| Scam type | How it works | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fake-check job offer | A “remote assistant” is sent a check, told to buy equipment or gift cards, then the check bounces and the money is lost. | BBB job scams page |
| Money mule or reshipping | Victims are “hired” to move money or repackage goods, which can make them part of a larger fraud. | BBB job scams page |
| Fake employer using a real brand | Scammers post jobs that do not exist, using well-known company names, to collect personal data or fees. | CEAS |
| Identity theft of freelancers | Fraudsters copy a real freelancer’s profile and pose as them to win work. | Richmond News (BBB) |
| Fake clients and off-platform requests | A “client” pushes the conversation to another app, asks for upfront payment or uses fake accounts. | WPTV report |
| Pay-to-work and training fees | Applicants are asked to pay for training materials, equipment or placement services before they can start. | Scambusters, CEAS |
How big is the problem?
Figures vary by source and year, and reporting is incomplete, so treat these as indicators, not precise counts.
- The BBB says 36% of the job-scam complaints it receives involve a fake check (see its job scams page).
- In Canada, more than 2,300 people reported losing over $49 million to job and employment scams in 2024, roughly four times the 2022 level. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre estimates that only 5 to 10 per cent of fraud is reported, so real losses are likely higher (Daily Hive).
- A report citing the FTC says job-scam incidents nearly tripled between 2020 and 2024, with consumer losses rising from $90 million to $501 million (WKNO).
Where to check and report
Use official databases for current warnings, and report anything suspicious. Reports help others and can help you recover money.
| Country | Where to report or check |
|---|---|
| United States | FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov. BBB Scam Tracker: bbb.org/scamtracker. FBI IC3 for internet crime: ic3.gov |
| Canada | Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca |
| United Kingdom | Action Fraud: actionfraud.police.uk |
| Australia | Scamwatch: scamwatch.gov.au |
| Any platform | The platform’s own report button and fraud help page |
Contact details and procedures change, so confirm them on the official sites.
If you think you have been targeted
- Stop all contact and do not send more money or information.
- Contact your bank or payment provider at once, especially about a check, transfer or card payment.
- Remove access to any accounts you shared and change passwords. Use our safe access guide.
- Keep records: messages, emails, receipts and screenshots.
- Report it to the right agency above and to the platform.
- Get advice if the loss or data exposure is large.
A few habits that prevent most problems
- Keep the conversation and the payment on the platform until you trust the person.
- Verify before you share. Look up the company yourself, and never rely only on the link you were sent. Do not enter a platform password after clicking a link in an email; go to the site directly.
- Use a password manager and two-factor authentication.
- Never refund or forward money from a check or transfer you have not confirmed has fully cleared.
- Be suspicious of speed and pressure. Real hiring processes allow time to check.
Frequently asked questions
Are job boards and freelance platforms scams?
Most are legitimate businesses, but any large platform attracts fake accounts. The risk is usually fake profiles and phishing, not the platform itself. Use the platform’s protections and report suspicious accounts. See how the main hiring routes compare.
Is a site with HTTPS safe?
No. The padlock only means the connection is encrypted. Scammers use it too.
Can I trust online reviews?
Treat them as one signal. Check several independent sources and look for patterns, not individual scores.
What if I think a site we mention is fake?
Contact us with evidence such as screenshots and dates. We will review it, and update the page if a regulator or other reliable source supports the claim.
Sources and further reading
- WKNO: report on FTC job-scam data (July 2026)
- BBB: job scams, including a remote-assistant case
- Richmond News: BBB warning on freelance imposters
- WPTV: fake accounts targeting paid freelance sites
- Raptive Help: identifying and reporting freelance and employment scams
- Lemon.io: how to spot freelance scams
- Scambusters: virtual assistant scams
- CEAS: recognise and avoid scams during a job search
- Daily Hive: Canadian job-scam losses, citing the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Facts and figures were checked against the sources above at the time of writing; verify current details on official sites.