Here’s how to evaluate a position that sounds too good to be true.
Job searching itself is an intimidating process, as it involves looking for positions through multiple platforms, writing various cover letters, and preparing for interviews. In today’s age, where technology is advancing rapidly, job seekers now have to add checking if a job is real to their research process, as job scams are only increasing.
In a recent study conducted by Heimdal, a cybersecurity platform, researchers surveyed 2,760 comments and posts on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, and Reddit) that were related to job scams: both raising the alarm on potential scams and providing advice on how to avoid scams.
One significant finding from this study is that the two common ways scammers target people are through emails and social media. It was also found that scammers advertise positions as “remote” as the most common work modality, at 43%.
It’s also important to note that the industry that seems to be in the lead of employment scams is finance, but this type of fraud is increasing in other fields such as IT, education, and healthcare.
Becoming more aware of different types of scams and learning how to check if the position is real are some of the ways one can prepare for situations like these. In this blog post, we will go over:
- Different Types of Scams
- Is the Position Authentic?
- Examples of Job Scams
- What to Do if You Were Scammed
1. Different Types of Scams
The two things scammers are after are personal information and money. Before we dive into learning to recognize red flags, it’s necessary to know how easily you can come into contact with fake jobs. In order to obtain either personal information and/or money, scams can present themselves in the form of emails, job board postings, social media, text messages, and more.
As shown above in the chart created by Heimdal on the previously mentioned survey, job scams are received through email the most. Social media and websites follow closely.
Job scammers also have crafty ways of making their jobs look more legitimate: for example, a fraudulent job posting may link to a scammer’s legitimate-looking bio (profile) on social media, making you think a trustworthy professional is behind the job posting.
Different types of scams promote themselves as governmental or postal services positions, work-from-home positions, job placement services (read more: Novoresume), reselling merchandise or reshipping jobs (read more: Federal Job Commission), and fake job offers through emails or social media, like postings or DMs.
2. Is the Position Authentic?
You’re probably thinking, after reading about the many ways one can be scammed, “How can I tell if the job position is authentic?” Don’t worry. Here are some red flags to look for in job descriptions and to keep in mind if you’ve entered the interview stage:
| Asking for personal information like SSN or financial information like credit/debit card | Receiving emails from non-company domains (ex. un5607471@gmail.com instead of firstname.lastname.@companyname.com) |
| Receiving job offers through email or SMS without signing up, applying for the position, or sharing your phone number | Positions that sound too good to be true or exaggerated pay for a limited time (ex. Earn $500 for working two hours!) |
| Incorrect grammar or bad spelling | Having to pay for your own training/computer and then sending a receipt of reimbursement |
| If they hire you without any interview | Receiving emails/messages from fake companies with very close spelling to actual companies (ex. real → FasTrak, fake → FastTrak Lane) |
| The job title is inconsistent in the job’s description | The website or company’s LinkedIn was created very recently |
| Requirements of job (like education level, etc.) does not match with pay grade. Or if it’s too unrealistic. | Company page on job board is does not match up with company mentioned in job listing |
Use these tips as a reference to know what to look for during your job search.
3. Examples of Job Scams
Now that you have learned about the types of job scams and what to look for, here are some examples of job scam messages.
- Indeed/job board
- Text message
What to Do if You Were Scammed
It might feel overwhelming and frightening if you realize you applied to a fraudulent job. The Federal Trade Commission gives consumers advice on what they should do if they give away their personal information, make payments through debit/credit cards, or give scammers access to their computers.
Common solutions are contacting banks to flag their charge as fraudulent, changing passwords, and reporting scams.
Will We Still Have Job Scams in the Future?
Probably. Scams in the work field are becoming more common as technology advances. Job scams aren’t the only way scammers are trying to obtain their goals. Recently, CNBC highlighted AI as a concern for employers to look out for, as applicants can use deepfake to get hired and steal information from companies.
It is very vital that you learn to spot the fake jobs from the real ones so you don’t end up losing or risking your personal information or money.
If you found this blog helpful, share it with your friends (or others) to raise awareness on this emerging issue.
Websites cited or used in research:
- Heimdal– “Job Scams Report – 2,670 Social Media Posts Reveal Scammers’ Top Tactics”
- Novoresume – “5+ Common Job Scams in 2025 [& How to Avoid Them!]”
- Federal Job Commision– “Job Scams”
- CNBC– “Fake job seekers are flooding U.S. companies that are hiring for remote positions, tech CEOs say”
