5 scams job seekers should look out for

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

March 5, 2024 2:41 PM

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

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.

"When times are tough, and people are struggling to find a job or struggling economically, there are bad actors out there who look to capitalize on other people's hardships," says Toni Frana, career expert at Flexjobs. "Another reason these scams have increased over the last couple of years and have become a bit more sophisticated is due to advances in technology like AI."

But just because scams have become more common and easier to facilitate through technology, it doesn't mean all hope is lost. If job seekers know what to look for, their alarm bells will go off before it's too late, underlines Frana. Here are five job scams that workers should look out for.

AI-generated job ads and 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."

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If the company's website itself seems off, job seekers can also check the company's LinkedIn and attempt to connect with someone who works there. Frana encourages seekers to trust their gut.

Social media messaging

While communication tools like LinkedIn messaging can help job seekers connect with recruiters at a desired company, the same tools can also be used against workers. Whether recruiters send the message on LinkedIn or WhatsApp, if they ask for personal information, job seekers should immediately be on alert.

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"If they're not willing to talk to you live on Zoom or over the phone, then that is definitely a red flag," says Frana. "Because the usage of these apps has increased over the last years, we've seen people try to recruit job seekers for made-up positions a lot more."

Google Doc mentions

If job seekers receive an invite to edit a Google Doc from recruiters, or get a notification telling them that their name has been mentioned in a Google Doc, they should have a healthy dose of suspicion, warns Frana. She advises workers to avoid clicking on any links on said document, and take the time to research the company.

Paying for remote work equipment

While remote-friendly jobs often provide at-home office stipends for the employees, scammers will offer a similar deal too, but usually before you even have the job or have been onboarded. Typically, scammers will ask the job seeker to buy the equipment, saying they will reimburse you, but they need your account information. A real recruiter or hiring manager would not directly ask for your account information before even hiring you, emphasizes Frana.

Unsolicited job offers

If a recruiter or anyone claiming to be a representative of a company contacts a job seeker with an offer out of nowhere, then it's likely too good to be true. These job offers may come in the form of emails or social media messages, with the scammer posing as a recruiter from a well-known company. It's best to automatically treat these messages as a scam.

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"If somebody is saying, 'I want to hire you now, can you start Monday?' that's definitely a red flag," says Frana. "Particularly if you didn't even apply to the job — they're just finding you and offering that to you."