Looking for a new job? Here are 5 scams to look out for

Published 2 Min Read

A man with glasses is pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration while sitting in front of his laptop.
Adobe Stock

Job seekers have enough on their plates without having to dodge fraudulent job ads and recruiters. But the reality is that job scams only seem to be growing more prevalent in a digital world. 

According to the Better Business Bureau, employment scams increased by 54% in 2023 and are on track to continue an upward trend. The Better Business Bureau goes as far as to say that employment scams are the second riskiest scam of the last few years, just behind online shopping scams. On average, people who fall for a job scam stand to lose nearly $2,000. That’s why remote job search platform Flexjobs rounded up common scams workers may encounter on their search, ranging from unsolicited job offers to AI-generated company websites. 

AI tools can make it easier for scammers to create fake job posts or company websites — but it’s also easy to confirm whether a company is real through a web search, explains Frana. If the job post has several grammar and spelling errors, or the writing seems awkward, that may be a sign to look for proof of that company elsewhere. 

“When you’re a job seeker, do a reverse search of the company you’re looking at,” says Frana. “That means look up the company on Google, go to their career page and make sure you can find the job.”

Deanna Cuadra
Senior Reporter

Deanna Cuadra is a senior reporter at Employee Benefit News. Her work covers healthcare, U.S. policy and reform, challenges faced by women and parents in the workplace and innovation in work culture … Read full bio


For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.


More From Employee Benefit News

Sign Up Form

Login Modal Form