Job Scams: How to Spot Fake Employment Opportunities

Securing and holding down a good employment opportunity in today's competitive job market is more challenging than ever. While candidates keenly search online job boards and social networks for their next position, they are increasingly at risk of being targeted by job scams and fake job offers that seek to take advantage of the uncertainty and pressure of unemployment.

This cruel practice wastes the job hunter's time and threatens to hit them in the pocket when they can least afford to lose money. According to Federal Trade Commission data, job scams quadrupled in the first half of 2024 with more than 20,000 recorded complaints, costing job seekers more than $220 million.

In this article, we share advice on how to spot job scams and offer safer job search tips to help you find your next role with confidence.

Key Insights

• Scammers often target vulnerable job seekers who are looking for flexible, work-from-home opportunities.
• Job scams attempt to steal personal information, persuade victims to make fraudulent payments, and engage in criminal activities.
• Fake job listings often appear on legitimate job boards and professional social networks.

Common Types of Job Scams

As the recruitment process has moved online, scammers have followed this trend and employ increasingly sophisticated methods of targeting job seekers. Here are just some of the more common tactics frequently reported on PissedConsumer's reviews.

Work-from-home job scams

Often targeting individuals looking for flexible working conditions to balance with commitments, such as childcare, study, or issues relating to disability or illness. These remote job scams can often be identified by their lack of a detailed job description, low skills requirements, and the promise of unrealistic earning potential. All of these job scam red flags can be seen in the following screenshot of a job offer received by text.

Fake emails

We have written extensively about email scams and phishing attacks here at PissedConsumer. Unfortunately, this scam tactic is just as prominent in the job market as in other industries. Unsolicited fake job offers received via email may appear to come from a legitimate source. 

However, as the following example of a fake email reported by Brown University suggests, red flags include poor grammar, an unrealistic pay rate, and a link that deceptively leads to a Google Form to collect personal information. If you receive any email you are unsure of, go to the website via Google and reach out to the recruiter via an official route.

Source: it.brown.edu

Game-like online job scams

Some jobs look more fun than others, but these game-like online job scams are no joke. Often referred to as task scams, these positions trick people into completing various online tasks like filling out surveys, reviewing products, or subscribing, liking, and sharing social media posts. 

In many cases, scammers demand payment using untraceable cryptocurrencies for access to training programs or the online platforms they use to manage tasks. As this recent review on PissedConsumer featuring a fake job opportunity falsely claiming to be with the online retailer Temu highlights, candidates will often initially work with scammers posing as trainers who encourage them to make additional payments with the promise of accessing more work opportunities and earning higher commissions and bonuses which never materialize.

After I had put up $3000 of my own money, my account went negative $7200 and I could not complete my work order to withdraw my commissions or initial investment or bonuses. They claimed that without being able to finish my work, I could not get my money.

Jobs scams on popular platforms

Unfortunately, high-profile online job boards like Indeed and professional social networks like LinkedIn aren’t immune to fake job offers. A recent PissedConsumer review highlighting fake jobs on Indeeddetails several consumer insights to help you avoid job scams on these platforms. 

they sent paperwork through the signal app that said job offer and back ground check but when I asked for a fax number I got no response, the next day Mr Hernandez never answered any of my questions

The red flags in this example include recruiters asking you to attend a fake job interview on an encrypted messaging app like WhatsApp or Signal, refusing to share the company’s registered address or other contact details, and ignoring requests to pass on employee tax numbers. While a genuine job did not materialize in this case, the reviewer was concerned that they may fall victim to identity theft.

Identity theft is a big concern around Indeed and LinkedIn job scams, with victims' personal details often shared amongst scammers, leading to more unsolicited fake job offers, as highlighted in this TikTok video. 

Source: tiktok.com

Money laundering scams

A fake job offer might lead to the victim being embroiled in a money laundering scam. This fake checks scam will typically involve the scammer sending money to the victim's bank account with instructions to purchase office equipment or software from approved supplies using various methods, including cryptocurrency, international money transfers, or making payments to multiple accounts. 

By falling victim to this type of job scam, individuals will not only find themselves without a legitimate job but may also face legal consequences. At the very least, victims stand to be severely inconvenienced, as highlighted by this post on PissedConsumer regarding a remote job scam on Indeed.

I even signed a so-called employment letter she sent me to sign through my email. She then sends me a check through UPS for 7500 and informed me to take this check to my bank and deposit it. This check was suppose to be for my at home equipment. I take the check to my bank and they instantly put my account on hold.

How to Spot and Avoid Job Scams

Several tell-tale signs scream "job scams red flag”. To avoid job scams, consider the following points before engaging with any potentially fake job offer:

• Too good to be true: Does the job offer extremely high salaries with little or no experience required?
• Vague job description: Be wary of job listings with no clear details about duties or responsibilities.
• Requests for upfront payments: Upfront fees to cover training costs or equipment purchases are clear signs that your job offer may not be legitimate.
• Unprofessional communication: Poor grammar, generic emails, or unprofessional contact using encrypted apps like WhatsApp or Signal are common signs of scams. 
• Unverified company details: Details like no official website, registered business address, or telephone number are signs the offer could be problematic.
• Payment handling: If you are asked to receive, transfer, or withdraw money through your bank account, you are at risk of being scammed and potentially personally involved in criminal activity.

Stay informed and avoid job scams

The best way to avoid falling victim to job scams is to stay informed about the scammers' tactics and motivations. The tips included in this article and employment reviews featured on PissedConsumer are a great place to start. We also regularly update our scam alert page to keep users up-to-date with the latest consumer issues and trustworthy reviews.

If you've ever fallen foul of a fake job offer, please share your experience and report scam to warn others and help them keep them safe from the scammers.