Most advice on fake jobs stops at “if it sounds too good to be true”. That catches the lazy scams. The ones that work look ordinary: a real company name, a sensible job title, a polite recruiter. Here is what to check.
What are the clearest signs of a fake job posting?
Start with the money and the channel. A real employer does not ask you to pay for anything to get a job. That includes training, vetting, a uniform, a software licence or a “security deposit”. Nor do they need your bank details, passport scan or National Insurance or Social Security number before they have made you an offer.
Be wary of these:
- Pay that is far above normal for a role with few requirements.
- A job you did not apply for, offered on the strength of a CV you “uploaded somewhere”.
- Pressure to reply today.
- A recruiter who will not do a call or video, or only does one with the camera off.
- Interviews held entirely by text chat.
How do you check the email address and website?
Lookalike domains are the most common trick. A scammer registers something close to the real company’s address, such as an extra letter, a hyphen, or a different ending like .co or .careers in place of .com. Read the part after the @ slowly, letter by letter.
Then do this:
- Go to the company’s website yourself by typing it in or searching. Do not use a link from the email.
- Look for the same role on the company’s own careers page.
- Check the recruiter’s email domain matches the company’s domain.
Free mail addresses (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) from someone claiming to be at a large employer are a warning. Small firms and some agencies do use them, so ask for confirmation from a company address.
Be careful with reverse logic too. A professional-looking email signature, a logo and a polished PDF prove nothing. They are easy to copy.
Can a real name and a LinkedIn profile still be fake?
Yes. Scammers often use the real name and photo of a genuine recruiter or hiring manager, or build a profile that looks established. Signs to look for:
- A profile created recently, with few connections and little history.
- A job title that does not fit the company’s size or structure.
- Connections who all work in unrelated industries.
- A name and photo that appear on a different profile elsewhere.
If in doubt, find the company’s switchboard or general contact details from its own website and ask whether the person works there and whether the role exists.
What is the fake cheque or equipment scam?
This is the one that catches people after a convincing interview. You are offered the job, often remote. The company says it will send a cheque or payment so you can buy a laptop, monitor or software from a “preferred supplier”. The cheque arrives, you pay the supplier, and days later the cheque bounces. The money you sent is gone, and your bank may ask you to cover it.
The rule is simple. A genuine employer either sends the equipment itself or reimburses you after you have started and been added to payroll. Never spend money from an unexpected payment on the promise of a job.
Why do scammers want to move you to WhatsApp or Telegram?
Messaging apps are harder for platforms and email filters to monitor, and a scammer can set up a new number in minutes. If a recruiter says “let’s continue on Telegram” soon after first contact, slow down. Ask for a call or an email from the company’s domain. If they refuse or keep pushing, stop replying.
What about cloned job adverts?
Some scammers copy a real advert word for word, then change the contact details or the pay. The role may be genuine at the real company, but the version you are looking at is not. If you found the advert on a job board or social media, compare it with the same role on the employer’s own careers page. Apply there, not through the copy.
What should you do if you think a job is a scam?
- Stop replying and do not click links or open attachments.
- Do not send money, ID or bank details.
- Keep the messages, adverts and any email headers as evidence.
- Report the advert to the platform where you found it.
- If you have lost money, tell your bank immediately.
Where do you report recruitment scams?
In the UK, report to Report Fraud (reportfraud.police.uk), the national reporting service for fraud and cyber crime. You can also forward suspicious emails to the National Cyber Security Centre’s reporting service. In the US, report to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Reporting helps even if you did not lose anything. It is how patterns get spotted and pages get taken down.
A short checklist before you reply to any recruiter
- Does the sender’s domain match the employer’s real website?
- Is the role on the employer’s own careers page?
- Can you speak to them on a call, and can the company confirm they work there?
- Has anyone asked you for money, bank details or gift cards?
- Are you being steered to WhatsApp or Telegram only?
One “no” is a reason to pause. Two is a reason to walk away. Following companies and checking their own careers sites directly cuts out a lot of this risk, because you are reading the vacancy at the source rather than through a copy.