How to Stay Safe from Job Scams

Learn how to spot fake job offers and protect your personal and financial information.

As more people search for jobs online, employment scams are becoming more popular. Scammers post fake listings on legitimate job boards, hoping to trick job seekers into giving up sensitive information or even money. 

Types of Job Scams

• Fake Job Listings

  Fake jobs can often be posted on legitimate job sites. They are designed to steal personal information and try to get money from you. People struggling to get a job can be especially vulnerable, as these fake listings often promise high salaries but provide very few real details.

• Work From Home Scams

  Remote jobs have grown in popularity in recent years — and scammers know it. Scammers are using this to their advantage and creating remote job listings of their own. This can be appealing as you get to work from the comfort of your home and get paid a generous salary. 

• Jobs That Make You Pay First

  Legitimate jobs won’t make you pay to get hired. Some scams, like fake mystery shopper jobs, charge you upfront for a “starter kit” or a list of stores supposedly hiring —  information you could find for free. Others advertise government or postal jobs and ask for fees to apply or train — but real government jobs never charge to apply. If a job wants money from you before you earn any, it’s a scam. 

• Fake Check Scams

  You’re “hired” quickly for an easy job, often as an assistant, reseller, nanny, or caregiver. The scammer sends you a fake check, instructs you to deposit it, then asks you to buy supplies or send part of the money back. The check will bounce, the bank will make you repay the full amount, and the scammer keeps the real money you sent. 

• Pyramid Schemes

  Scammers may pitch what sounds like a chance to start your own business or make big money from home. But these “opportunities” are often pyramid schemes disguised as legitimate sales jobs. Instead of making real income selling products, you only earn money by recruiting more people into the scheme. 

How To Spot Scams

• Too Good To Be True

  Scam job listings often promise unrealistic perks to lure you in. If a job includes common job scam signs, like a six-figure salary for entry level work, claims you can “be your own boss” with no experience, or guarantees fast money with little effort, it’s likely a scam. 

• You Did Not Apply for Any Jobs

  If you receive a job offer or interview request for a position you never applied for, proceed with caution. Scammers often send phishing job emails, posing as recruiters to lure individuals exploring new opportunities. These messages may look professional and even reference real companies, but if you didn’t submit an application, it’s likely a scam. 

• No Company Website or Verified Job Posting 

  Before you apply or more importantly, share any personal information take a moment to research the company and the job listing. Scammers often copy real job postings or create fake ones that look convincing at first glance. If you can’t find the job on the company’s official website, or if the site looks suspicious or inconsistent, that’s a red flag. When in doubt, it is always safest to apply directly through the company’s official careers page. 

How To Report Job Scams:

Don’t stay silent. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and help protect others.