Is remote sales legit? How to spot the scams
Yes, remote sales is a legit job. Real businesses in Australia and the US pay closers and appointment setters to talk with interested customers from home, usually over Zoom or the phone. But the space also attracts scams and a lot of hype, so the honest answer is: the job is real, and plenty of the ads for it are not. The quickest test is simple. A real role pays you to sell a real product to real customers; a scam asks you to pay, recruit, or move money first.
What a legit remote sales role actually looks like
A genuine remote sales job is boring in the best way. A business has a product or service people already buy (coaching, courses, software, consulting), it generates leads, and it needs someone to talk to them. That someone is you.
- Appointment setters start conversations, usually by message or short calls, and book qualified people onto a calendar.
- Closers run the longer sales call, work out whether the offer genuinely fits, and ask for the decision.
If you want the full picture of the day-to-day, read what a remote closer does or our guide to appointment setter jobs from home.
Signs you’re looking at the real thing:
- You can find the business, its product and its customers independently, not just through the person recruiting you.
- There’s a written agreement covering how you’re paid, when commission lands, and how refunds and payment plans are treated.
- Someone interviews you properly and asks about your experience, availability and how you handle conversations.
- They can tell you roughly how many calls or conversations you’ll get each week and who supplies the leads.
- You never pay them to start working.
Let’s be honest about commission
Here’s the part the hype ads skip. Many remote sales roles are commission-heavy or commission-only, especially with online coaching and course businesses. That isn’t a scam in itself. It’s a pay model, and it can suit people who want flexible hours. But it does mean you earn when you close or book, and you earn nothing in a week when you don’t.
Results also take time. Your first weeks are usually about learning the offer, the scripts and the team’s process. My own first month in remote sales back in 2020 brought in $440. That’s my result, not a typical one, and it’s a good reality check against anyone flashing big numbers at you. For real pay ranges with sources, see how much remote closers make.
A legit commission-only role tells you up front how it works. A scam hides the catch until after you’ve paid or signed.
The red flags: remote sales scams to watch for
Job scams are big business. In the US, the Federal Trade Commission reported that losses to job and employment agency scams jumped from $90 million in 2020 to $501 million in 2024, with reports tripling over that time. In Australia, the National Anti-Scam Centre’s Targeting Scams report (March 2026) says losses reported to Scamwatch for jobs and employment scams rose from $13.7 million in 2024 to $24.8 million in 2025, with reports up 102.5%. Those are only the losses people reported, so the real figures are likely higher.
Here are the patterns that show up again and again.
1. You have to pay to work
The FTC’s advice on job scams is blunt: don’t pay for the promise of a job, and honest employers will never ask you to pay to get one. Scamwatch’s jobs and employment scams guidance says the same thing for Australia, flagging any “recruitment fee” or payment for training materials before you start and earn. If a “sales team” wants a fee to give you leads, a login or a spot on the roster, walk away.
One important distinction: paying for training you choose is a separate decision from paying for a job. Plenty of people invest in a course, a degree or a coaching program. What should never happen is an employer or client charging you to take the role.
2. You earn by recruiting, not selling
This one is personal. My first taste of sales was in network marketing (MLM) back in 2014, so I know how exciting the pitch feels from the inside. The FTC’s guidance on multi-level marketing and pyramid schemes says that if your income would be based mostly on how many people you recruit rather than how much product you sell, you’re looking at a pyramid scheme. It also says most people who join legitimate MLMs make little or no money. Remote closing and setting are not MLM: you’re paid by a business to sell its offer to its customers, and you don’t build a “downline”.
3. Promises of a set income
Watch for anyone promising you’ll make a specific amount, fast, with little effort. The FTC lists extravagant promises about earning potential as a warning sign, and its job scam advice warns about claims that you can make a lot of money in a short time with little work. Real sales income varies with the offer, the lead flow, your skill and the hours you put in. Nobody honest can promise you a number.
4. Income screenshots and lifestyle flexing
Screenshots of huge pay days, Stripe dashboards and “I made this on a Tuesday” posts prove nothing about what you would earn. They’re usually a single best day, and sometimes not even the poster’s own numbers. Ask instead: what do new people in this role typically experience in their first three months? An honest business will answer that plainly.
5. Fake cheques and “equipment” money
A classic: you’re “hired” quickly, sent a cheque (a check in the US) to deposit, then told to send part of it on to buy equipment, software or supplies from their “approved vendor”. The FTC says no honest employer will send you a check and then ask you to send part of the money on, and its guidance on fake check scams notes it can take weeks for a bank to work out a check is fake. By then the money you sent is gone and you owe the bank.
6. Fast hiring, encrypted apps and “tasks”
Scamwatch warns that real recruiters won’t move your conversation to an encrypted app like WhatsApp or Telegram, and that being hired with no interview or questions about your experience is a warning sign. It also describes task scams, where you’re paid a small amount to build trust, then told to “top up” your account with your own money to unlock commission.
Not sure if an offer you’ve seen is real? Book a free call with the She Sells team and talk it through honestly.
Legit vs scam at a glance (AU and US)
| What you see | Legit remote sales role | Likely scam |
|---|---|---|
| Money at the start | You pay nothing to start working | “Starter kit”, lead fee, recruitment fee or training fee to get the job |
| How you earn | Commission or wage for selling the business’s offer to its customers | Mostly from recruiting others, or “topping up” to unlock earnings |
| Income talk | Honest ranges, clear commission rates, says results vary | A set income promised, flashy screenshots, “quit your job in 30 days” |
| Hiring process | Real interview, role play or trial calls | Hired in minutes over text or WhatsApp, no questions asked |
| Payments to you | Paid on a set schedule for completed sales | A cheque you must deposit and partly send on |
| Where to report (AU) | Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au), run by the National Anti-Scam Centre | |
| Where to report (US) | The FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov | |
How to vet a remote sales business before you say yes
- Look the business up yourself. Find its website, socials and reviews on your own, not through links the recruiter sends. In Australia you can search the business name and ABN on the ABN Lookup; in the US, check the state business registry.
- Ask for the agreement in writing before you start: commission rate, when it’s paid, what happens with refunds and payment plans, and whether you’re an employee or a contractor.
- Ask about lead flow. How many booked calls or conversations does a new closer or setter get each week? Who generates them?
- Ask to speak to someone already on the team who you can verify is real.
- Never send money by bank transfer, gift card or crypto to “unlock” work.
How to vet a training program
Training is murkier, because genuine programs cost money and some “programs” are get-rich schemes in a nicer outfit. The FTC’s tips on vetting a business or coaching opportunity say to ask for the legally required one-page disclosure document for business opportunities, which identifies the seller, any lawsuits, refund terms and references, and includes an earnings claim statement if they make income claims. Whether or not a program falls under that rule, ask the same questions:
- What exactly do I get: live coaching, role play, feedback, or just videos?
- What happens after the training? Is there any help getting placed in a role, and what are the exact terms in writing?
- What’s the refund policy?
- Do you make earnings claims, and what are they based on?
Since you’re probably wondering: we’ve written a full, straight answer to is She Sells legit? that puts our own programs through these questions. In short, She Launches is foundation training (live coaching, role play, frameworks) and does not include direct placement. She Soars runs through the She Sells “Cert III in Remote Sales” certificate, and once you’re certified, our recruitment team works with you to land a role within 90 days, or your money back. You can see the details on our programs page or the FAQ.
So, is remote sales worth it?
It can be, if you go in with clear eyes. I started as a primary school teacher in a small town, not in sales, and I’ve since generated over $10M in online sales. That didn’t happen in a week, and it didn’t happen by recruiting anyone into a scheme. It came from learning a skill, practising it, and working with real businesses selling real things.
If an offer asks you to pay to work, recruit to earn, or trust a screenshot, it’s not remote sales. It’s a scam wearing its clothes.
Want to see if remote sales could work for you? Book a free call with the She Sells team. No hype, just an honest chat about whether it fits your life.
Frequently asked questions
Are remote sales jobs real?
Yes. Businesses that sell coaching, courses, software and services hire remote closers and appointment setters to talk with interested leads. Many roles are commission-heavy or commission-only, so always get the pay terms in writing before you start.
Is high-ticket closing an MLM?
No. In closing or setting, a business pays you to sell its offer to its own customers, and you don’t earn from recruiting other people. If an opportunity pays you mostly for recruiting, the FTC says that’s a sign of a pyramid scheme.
Should I pay to get a remote sales job?
No. Both the FTC and Scamwatch warn that a real employer won’t charge you to start work. Paying for training you choose is a separate decision, but no business should charge you a fee to take a role or access leads.
How do I report a job scam in Australia or the US?
In Australia, report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. In the US, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you’ve sent money, contact your bank straight away as well.
How long does it take to earn in remote sales?
It varies a lot. Your first weeks usually go on learning the offer and the business’s process, and commission builds as your skill and lead flow grow. Be wary of anyone who promises a fast, fixed result.
Results vary. Nothing here is a promise of income. See our earnings disclaimer.
