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What to do if…
a recruiter asks you to start work before you have a signed contract

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Pause before producing work output. Ask for written confirmation of the role, pay, start date, legal employer, and how they intend to engage you, then independently verify the employer before sharing sensitive information.

Do not do these things

  • Do not produce deliverables or complete a trial shift before the pay arrangement and the employer’s identity are clear in writing.
  • Do not assume that being called a W-2 employee or a 1099 independent contractor settles your status.
  • Do not send your Social Security number, ID scans, or bank details through an unverified contact or before you understand why they are needed.
  • Do not pay a fee to get the job or buy equipment, training, or supplies through the recruiter.
  • Do not deposit a check and send money onward, buy gift cards, buy cryptocurrency, or return an alleged overpayment.
  • Do not quit your current job or relocate based only on a verbal promise.

What to do now

  1. Ask for the basics in writing:
    Request the job title, duties, legal employer name, work location or remote arrangement, start date, pay rate or salary, pay schedule, and how the employer intends to engage and pay you.

  2. Use a boundary that buys time:
    “I’m ready to move forward once I have the written role, pay, legal employer name, start date, and onboarding steps.”

  3. Verify the employer independently:
    Find the company’s official website yourself. Use a published phone number or contact route that did not come only from the recruiter. Ask the company to confirm the recruiter and the role.

  4. Check whether the onboarding story makes sense:
    For a person hired as an employee in the United States, Form I-9 is generally completed around the start of employment. The employee completes Section 1 no later than the first day of work, and the employer generally completes Section 2 within three business days. For a job lasting fewer than three business days, Section 2 is generally completed no later than the first day. Missing I-9 paperwork before you start is not automatically proof of a scam, but complete avoidance of normal onboarding is a reason to pause.

  5. Do not let a label end the conversation:
    Ask whether the employer intends to treat you as an employee or independent contractor. A W-2, 1099, or contract label may not settle your status by itself.

  6. Record any work already done:
    Write down the dates, hours, instructions, people involved, and work produced. Keep copies of messages and files you already have lawful access to.

  7. Use an official route if you think pay has been withheld:
    Contact the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243. You can ask whether it can help with your situation.

  8. Act promptly if sensitive information may have been exposed:
    If you already sent your Social Security number or other identity information to an unverified contact, use IdentityTheft.gov for recovery steps. If you suspect a fake recruiter or job scam, stop sharing information and use the FTC reporting route.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide every policy, benefit, or long-term career question today.
  • You do not need to argue with the recruiter or accuse anyone.
  • You do not need to send sensitive documents just because someone says the request is urgent.

Important reassurance

A missing signed contract does not automatically mean the job is fake, and onboarding processes vary. It is still reasonable to pause when someone wants work output before confirming the basics or pressures you to send money or sensitive information.

Scope note

These are first steps only. Later decisions about unpaid wages, worker classification, identity theft, or the terms of the role may need specialist help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, financial, or professional advice. Employment rules and available routes can vary by state and by the facts of the working arrangement.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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