This is not a real job. This is employment fraud

Imagine searching for a job for months, then finally getting an unsolicited text message with a link from a recruiter offering a work-from-home position making thousands of dollars a day. All you have to do is fill out a form with your personal information or in some cases pay for a business starter kit.

If that sounds too good to be true, it is.

Offers like this are usually employment scams. It may not always look like it, but job scams generally aim to get you to spend money you’ll never get back, or trick you into giving up your data.

Distinguishing these from real job opportunities can be difficult. Here’s how to tell if a job prospect is legit or just a scammer after your money.

Read more: Identity theft at work happens more often than you think

How job scams work

Job scams can take many different forms depending on the end goal, and virtually anyone can be a target. Criminals pose as a recruiter, business owner or hiring manager to advertise fake jobs or opportunities for dishonest purposes. In some cases scammers will set up bots to target people who have posted on LinkedIn about downsizing or “OpenToWork”.

More than 110,000 business and employment scams were reported to the Federal Trade Commission in 2023, according to a February 2024 report, with losses reaching $491 million.

Individuals may receive seemingly untargeted text messages about job openings. These texts are easy to overlook by those who have not been on the job hunt, but people who are currently looking for work can easily assume that the texts are relevant to their search.

These are examples of unsolicited text messages I’ve received over the past few months.

I replied to the first message to see what they would say, knowing it was a scam. However, as a general rule, you should not respond to spam messages, as this confirms to the scammer that the number is active and that you are prepared to respond to future phishing attempts.

The recruiter responded by arranging an interview via WhatsApp, but I never turned up.

The FTC warns that some fake job scams promise work-from-home opportunities where you can make thousands of dollars in their spare time. But these scams only exist to lure desperate people into buying expensive “starter kits” for what they think is their new business venture.

Resend opportunities are another popular job scam. This involves the victim agreeing to receive packages at their home, which they in turn repackage and send to another address. The products themselves, often electronics, were likely purchased with stolen credit cards, and before you know it, you’ve found yourself caught in the middle of a larger scam. The check you were promised for helping ship products never comes either.

For more examples of recent scams you can check Better Business Bureau Fraud Tracker. Type “job” or “employment” into the search bar to bring up thousands of different job scam complaints, including details of how they worked and the amount of money lost.

How to avoid online recruitment scams

Employment scams can be difficult to identify or spot, especially if you’re looking for a job and want to believe that all employer bites are legitimate. But there are some telltale signs that should set off alarms in your mind.

These steps can help you spot fake job opportunities sent to you by scammers:

• They reach through text. Unless you know the recruiter, this is suspicious activity.
• The recruiter requires money in advance. No legitimate company will require you to pay to work. If a job requires you to pay a fee or send them money for equipment, that’s a scam, even if they say they’ll reimburse you.
• The compensation is too good to be true. You have an idea of ​​what a job should pay. If the salary is far above your own expectations, that’s a red flag.
• The interview is conducted via a messaging service. Many job interviews are conducted remotely. But these are usually conducted over the phone or video conferencing software, such as Zoom or Google Meet.
• You get an instant quote. Finding a job should take some time as multiple interviews are often required. Recruiters will also interview and screen multiple applicants.

If you’re still unsure, the FTC recommends researching companies offering you work to make sure they’re legitimate. Also, search for the company name followed by words like “scam” or “review” to see what pops up.

If you want to confirm a job opportunity or offer from a legitimate company, turn off the recruiter and contact them directly.

Can job scams lead to ID theft?

Some employment scams exist to steal money from victims, but others may not stop there.

During the job application process, victims may share information that is standard for providing to a new employer, such as name, date of birth, home address and Social security number. This information can be used by identity thieves to open bank accountstaking out loans or credit cards in your name and even file false tax returns.

As a safety measure, consider freezing your credit with three major credit bureaus if you have fallen for a job scam. You should also consider signing up for identity theft protection. These services offer insurance to help pay the necessary expenses if your identity is stolen.

How to report employment fraud

If you come across a fake job offer or employment scam, report it so others don’t become victims. Here’s how:

If you’ve already been a victim of employment fraud, you should take some additional steps to limit the damage and protect yourself from identity theft.

For example, if you shared confidential personal information as part of the scam, you can freeze your credit reports or set up fraud alerts on your credit reports. You can also sign up for identity theft protection and monitoring serviceswhich can alert you if someone tries to open an account or apply for a loan in your name.

If you’ve already sent money to a scammer, the FTC recommends contacting the company behind the payment method you used (eg PayPal, Zelle, credit card, etc.) to report the scam and ask them to reverse the transaction. You’re unlikely to get your money back in most cases, but you won’t know unless you ask.