Riddle Me This

I need help determining if a job offer for a full remote instructional designer position is legit or nah.

I’m currently employed with a very large corporation and have the experience/background required for the job.

Here are the facts. Employer reached out to me via LinkedIn after I applied for the job saying they were impressed with my background and want me to submit my resume to the company email. I did. I was then reached out to via same email asking me to fill out an “entry interview” form describing my experience. It had a bunch of questions applicable to the role and working ways. I filled that out and sent it back.

THEN they sent me an email saying they want to offer me employment. They sent the job details, pay, schedule, and what the onboarding process looks like. How much I’ll be paid for training, who I’ll meet with after I agree, yadda yadda. (Which all seems fine but a little TOO good to be true.)

BUT, red flag, they want to send me a check to buy the equipment required for the job and a list of supplies. Claiming once I get set up, training will commence. This is where it gets sticky.

People, I have done my due diligence. I stalked the employer online, learned the woman that reached out to me on LinkedIn is the founder of this company and uses her personal home address as the company headquarters address. I also checked her university background, which also states in the alumni pages that she is the founder of this company.

They have sent me an employment contract but deem it unnecessary at this time to meet me or have a phone call in person? Weird. I responded that I’d only be comfortable moving forward if I can talk to an HR representative or company supervisor.

I hate that things are getting this complicated to apply for a freakin job but I’m stumped. Seems pretty ballsy to reach out to employ someone and hand out your home address. The only information I can find about the company is their very vague, pitiful website and the CEO background. What am I missing? I’m not naive enough to just up and leave my job until I know this is legit, but I’m typically good with identifying a scam.

Thanks in advance and let me know if I’m missing details to help better understand this.