How to spot fake job scams in 2025

Navigating the job market requires skill, determination, and a keen awareness of potential pitfalls, especially when it comes to online searches. The search for a new job can be exciting and hopeful, but it’s also a time when job seekers are vulnerable to scams. Unfortunately, fake job postings are a prevalent issue, designed to trick unsuspecting applicants out of their personal information or money.

The landscape of job hunting has evolved, with online job boards and professional networking sites becoming primary resources. While these platforms offer incredible opportunities, they also provide avenues for scammers. According to a survey by Genius Consultants, reported in The Economic Times, 70% of respondents reported encountering fake job postings, and 65% believe the growth of online recruitment platforms has directly contributed to an increase in job fraud.

At Comparitech, we want to arm you with the knowledge to navigate the job market safely. This post will guide you on how to spot a fake job scam and protect yourself.

What are fake job scams?

Fake job scams, also known as employment fraud, are deceptive schemes where criminals pose as legitimate employers or recruiters. Their aim is to exploit job seekers or freelancers by tricking them into revealing sensitive personal information, paying bogus fees, or even unknowingly participating in illegal activities like money laundering. These scams appear convincing, often mimicking real companies’ branding and communication style.

How do fake job scams work?

Scammers employ various tactics, but a common pattern often emerges:

1. The lure:A job posting appears, often on legitimate job boards, social media, or via unsolicited email. It might promise unusually high pay, flexible hours, or require minimal experience for an attractive role.
2. Initial contact & building trust: The scammer contacts the applicant by posing as a recruiter or hiring manager. Communication might seem professional initially, but red flags can emerge (more on this later). They may try to build rapport and make the job seeker feel like a strong candidate.
3. Information extraction or payment request: This is the core of the scam. The fraudster might ask for detailed personal information (like your National Insurance/Social Security number, bank details, or copies of your passport) much earlier than is standard in a legitimate hiring process. Alternatively, they may request payment for training, equipment, background checks, or an “administration fee.”
4. The disappearing act or further exploitation: Once the scammer has what they want – your information or money – they may disappear. In other cases, they might string the victim along, asking for more money or information. Sometimes, the “job” involves illegal activities like reshipping stolen goods or transferring illicit funds, turning the victim into an unwitting accomplice.

Common types of fake job scams

Understanding the different guises these scams can take is crucial for spotting them:

• Data entry scams: These often advertise high pay for simple data entry tasks. Victims might be asked to pay for software or training, or the work itself might be a front for other illicit activities.
• Reshipping scams: Job seekers are “hired” to receive packages (often purchased with stolen credit cards) and reship them, usually to an overseas address. This is a form of money laundering, and participants can face legal consequences.
• Fake recruiter scams: Scammers impersonate recruiters from well-known companies or create entirely fictitious recruitment agencies. They leverage the reputation of these entities to appear legitimate.
• Interview scams: Some scams involve fake interviews, often conducted solely via instant messaging or email. The “interviewer” asks for personal information or even bank details under the guise of setting up payroll.
• Upfront fee scams: The “employer” requires applicants to pay for training materials, software, uniforms, background checks, or even a “guaranteed” job placement. Legitimate employers typically cover these costs.
• Overpayment scams: The victim receives a seemingly legitimate cheque for more than the agreed-upon amount for initial expenses or salary. They are then asked to deposit the cheque and wire back the “overpayment.” The original cheque eventually bounces, leaving the victim liable for the full amount.
• Identity theft scams: The primary goal is to gather as much personal information as possible to commit identity fraud. The “job” is merely a pretext.
• Work-from-home scams: While legitimate remote work is common, scammers often exploit its popularity by offering too-good-to-be-true remote positions that follow the patterns of other job scams. Westpac in Australia noted a 155% increase in job scam cases in January of one year, often exploiting the appeal of flexible job opportunities.

How to spot a fake job scam

Vigilance is your best defence. Here are key red flags to watch out for:

Vague job descriptions and requirements

Legitimate job postings usually detail specific duties, responsibilities, and necessary qualifications. Scammers often use generic descriptions to attract a wider pool of victims. Approach cautiously if the role sounds too easy or the requirements are overly simplistic.

Unprofessional communication

Look out for poor grammar, spelling mistakes, random capitalization, and an overall unprofessional tone in emails or messages. While occasional typos happen, a consistent pattern of errors is a major red flag.

Use of free email addresses

Legitimate companies almost always communicate using a corporate email address (e.g., name@companyname.com). Be highly suspicious if a “recruiter” uses a personal email address from services like Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail, especially if they claim to represent a large, established company.

Requests for personal information too early

Companies typically only ask for sensitive information like your bank details, Social Security Number, or passport copies after a formal job offer has been made and you’re onboarding.

Pressure to act quickly

Scammers often create a false sense of urgency, pressuring you to accept the offer, provide information, or make a payment immediately. They don’t want to give you time to think critically or do your research.

Requests for upfront payment

This is one of the most blatant signs of a job scam. You should never have to pay your employer for a job, training, equipment (that isn’t standard for your role and purchased through reputable vendors post-hire), or background checks.

Unverifiable company information

If you can’t find a legitimate website, physical address, or contact number for the company, or if the website looks unprofessional, was recently created, or has inconsistent information, be wary, as the website might be malicious. Search for the company online, look for reviews, and check their social media presence. Tools like WHOIS can tell you when a domain was registered; newly created domains are a red flag.

The company “finds” your resume, but you never applied

While recruiters do search for candidates, be cautious if you receive an unsolicited job offer for a position you never applied for, especially if it seems too good to be true.

They send you a cheque to deposit and wire money

This is a classic overpayment scam. The cheque will be fake, and you’ll lose any money you send.

What to do if you think you’ve encountered a job scam

If you suspect a job posting or offer is a scam, or if you’ve unfortunately fallen victim:

1. Stop all communication immediately: Do not provide any more personal information or money.
2. Preserve evidence: Keep copies of all communications (emails, messages), job postings, and any contact details you have for the scammers. Screenshots can be very useful.
3. Contact your bank: If you have provided financial information or made payments, contact your bank or credit card company immediately. They may be able to stop or reverse transactions and advise you on how to secure your accounts.
4. Report the scam:
   • To the job board or platform: If you encounter a scam on a job website (e.g., Indeed, LinkedIn), report the posting to them so they can remove it and potentially ban the scammer.
   • To Action Fraud: In the UK, report the scam to Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre. You can do this online or by phone. The Stop! Think Fraud campaign also provides guidance on reporting.
   • To the police: If you’ve lost a significant amount of money or your identity has been compromised, report it to your local police.
   • To the company being impersonated: If the scammer was pretending to be from a real company, inform that company. They may have a process for dealing with such impersonations.
   • To the FTC (in the US): If the scam has a US connection, or for US readers, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FBI also advises reporting to their Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
5. Change passwords: If you’ve shared any existing passwords or believe your accounts might be at risk, change them immediately – a password manager can provide and remember high complexity passwords.
6. Monitor your accounts and credit report: Check your bank accounts, credit card statements, and credit report for suspicious activity, especially if you’ve shared sensitive personal information.

How to protect yourself from job scams

Prevention is always better than cure. Here are some proactive steps:

• Do your research: Thoroughly investigate any company that offers you a job. Check their official website, look for reviews from current and former employees (e.g., on Glassdoor), and search for news articles or mentions.
• Verify contact information independently: Don’t rely solely on the contact details provided in an email or message. If a recruiter claims to be from a specific company, find the company’s official contact number from their website and call to verify the job offer and the recruiter’s legitimacy.
• Be skeptical of unsolicited offers: While not all unsolicited contacts are scams, approach them with caution. If a dream job lands in your inbox without you applying, scrutinize it carefully.
• Protect your personal information: Be very cautious about who you share your personal details with. Never include highly sensitive information like your National Insurance number or bank details on your public CV or in initial job applications.
• Trust your instincts: If something feels off or too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t let the excitement of a potential job offer cloud your judgment.
• Use secure and reputable job search platforms: Stick to well-known job boards, but even then, remain vigilant as scammers can infiltrate these, too.
• Never pay for a job: Remember, legitimate employers will not ask you for money to secure a job, for training, or for equipment they require you to use.
• Be wary of interviews via messaging apps only: Insist on a voice or video call, or an in-person meeting if feasible.
• Educate yourself: Stay informed about common scam tactics. The more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to spot them. Heimdal Security’s analysis of job scams found that the finance industry (35.45%) and IT (30.43%) were heavily targeted, and 43% of scam posts mentioned remote positions.

Job scam FAQs