Most Common Employment Scams & How to Avoid Them
Employment scams trick job seekers into paying fees, sharing sensitive data, or doing illegal tasks. Learn the newest tactics and how to dodge them fast.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
About this scam type
Employment scams target people searching for jobs by impersonating recruiters, posting fake jobs, or offering remote tasks. Scammers use convincing tactics to get victims to pay up-front fees, provide personal details, or participate in illegal activities without realizing it. Victims of these scams can face direct financial loss, identity theft, or even involvement in fraud without their knowledge.
How scammers contact victims
Scammers commonly reach job seekers via email, with text messages and social apps like WhatsApp also playing a big role. These channels let scammers make fast, unsolicited contact while hiding their real identities. Because messages appear legitimate, many recipients drop their guard.
Who is most at risk
While anyone looking for work can be targeted, college students, recent graduates, military members and spouses, and older adults are especially at risk. These groups are often actively seeking new opportunities, may be inexperienced with hiring processes, or may not know how to verify jobs. Scammers exploit this urgency and lack of familiarity.
Understanding the risk level
Employment scams are considered high risk because losses can be significant, including both immediate financial loss and long-term identity theft. Task scams often lead to money loss through crypto or gift card payments. Fake job scams can involve fraudulent checks, putting victims at risk for bank losses, and some schemes can expose people to criminal liability as money mules.
Most Common Employment Scams
How it works: Scammers send unsolicited texts or WhatsApp messages inviting you to do simple online tasks, such as 'product boosting' or 'app optimization.' They show fake dashboards with supposed earnings and soon require a crypto deposit to keep going or to cash out. These scams have spiked in 2024, costing victims hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Real Example
Hi, we pay $200 daily for app optimization and product boosting. Reply YES to start. Red Flag Signs:
- • Asked to pay in cryptocurrency to unlock tasks or withdraw money.
- • No real interview and pressure to act quickly by text.
- • Buzzwords like 'optimization' and complicated commission plans.
- • Pushy group chats filled with supposed success stories urging you to deposit.
How it works: Impostor HR sends a check for you to buy a laptop, software, or 'approved' equipment, or asks you to buy gift cards. After you deposit the check and send receipts or gift cards, the check bounces and your bank holds you responsible for the loss.
We are mailing your onboarding check. Deposit it today and purchase approved equipment. Send receipts and remaining funds via gift cards. Red Flag Signs:
- • Promised payment before any work is done, plus instructions to buy gift cards or send money.
- • Claims that a check has ‘cleared’ so it is safe to spend.
- • Pressure to make purchases immediately and outside normal company rules.
How it works: You are told to receive, repackage, and mail out goods for pay. The items are often bought using stolen credit cards. Not only do most victims never get paid, but they also risk being treated as an accomplice to fraud.
Victim Quote
I was offered the job to receive and pick up packages… I was supposed to get a salary of $3000 plus bonuses. Red Flag Signs:
- • Any at-home reshipping work is illegitimate.
- • Requests for a copy of your driver’s license or ID during application.
- • Employer disappears or goes silent when payday arrives.
How it works: Scammers pretend to be employees of known organizations, offer jobs with chat-only interviews, and then ask for your Social Security number or bank information before any official offer is made. These schemes are common on email and job sites.
We reviewed your resume and want to hire you immediately. Please fill out direct deposit details and SSN to proceed. Red Flag Signs:
- • Personal or mismatched email addresses or vague job details.
- • Interview only on apps like Telegram or WhatsApp.
- • Pushed to share sensitive identity or banking info by text, before an offer.
How it works: You are asked to pay for a starter kit, training, exams, or a guaranteed placement. After you pay, the job either vanishes or never materializes. The FTC has returned millions to victims after enforcement actions against these schemes.
Congrats. Pay $95 today for mandatory onboarding course to secure your position. Red Flag Signs:
- • Upfront fees to get or keep a job.
- • Exaggerated job placement rates or fake 'partners.'
How it works: Fake websites and emails promise federal or postal jobs, charging you application fees or for exam prep. Real federal jobs are always posted on USAJOBS, and USPS never charges any fee to apply.
USPS Careers Referral: pay $89 to reserve your postal exam and secure placement. Red Flag Signs:
- • Requests for any application fee for USPS or government jobs.
- • Emails claiming to be USAJOBS but containing attachments or asking for personal data.
Red Flags & Warning Signs
Top 5 Phrases Scammers Use
- 1 "No interview required or start today"
Suggests they are not screening serious applicants and want you to act quickly.
- 2 "Product boosting or app optimization tasks"
Scam jobs often use unusual phrases to create fake legitimacy.
- 3 "We sent a check for your equipment"
Scammers send fake checks you are expected to deposit and spend fast.
- 4 "Move the interview to Telegram or WhatsApp"
Real employers rarely use messaging apps for interviews.
- 5 "Pay a small fee to secure the job"
Legitimate employers never charge upfront fees.
Scam Warning Signs
- Unsolicited texts with high-paying remote jobsCold contacts for easy work are often scam bait.
- Requests for payment by crypto, gift card, or wireThese payment methods are hard to trace and cannot be recovered.
- Depositing a check and sending some money elsewhereBanks can take weeks to detect a bad check, leaving you responsible.
- Recruiters using personal email domains or asking for SSN earlyProfessional recruiters use company emails and never need your SSN until after an official offer.
- At-home reshipping or handling packagesOften involves stolen goods and exposes you to criminal risks.
Legitimate Communications
- Job is listed on the employer’s official career page or USAJOBSLegitimate companies post jobs on their own sites or official federal sites.
- Professional interviews on the phone or video using company email domainsReal hiring teams use secure, professional channels.
- No fee charged to apply or for equipmentGenuine employers handle expenses through HR, never out of your pocket up front.
- You fill out paperwork only after a formal, written offerSensitive information is provided only after an official offer, through secure HR platforms.
- Recruiter’s identity and email domain match the companyYou can verify recruiters with the company or on trusted verification platforms.
How to Protect Yourself
Job scams can be hard to spot, but these steps help you stay safe. Share them with older family members or anyone new to job searching.
- 1. Verify the job on the company’s official website
Look up the listing on the real careers page or, for federal roles, always use USAJOBS. Ignore links in unsolicited emails or texts.
Call the company’s main number to confirm a recruiter's identity if you have any doubts.
- 2. Never pay to land a job
Be wary of any requested fees for training, exams, onboarding, or equipment reimbursements before you start work. Legitimate jobs do not require upfront payment.
- 3. Do not deposit checks sent by would-be employers
Scammers use fake checks to trick you into sending them real money. Even if a check 'clears,' your bank can reverse it and hold you liable.
- 4. Reject requests for payment by crypto, gift cards, or wires
Real employers never ask for these payment methods. Task scams especially use crypto to demand deposits or to release fake earnings.
- 5. Guard your Social Security number and direct deposit info
Only provide this sensitive information through secure HR systems after a formal offer is made.
- 6. Research the recruiter
Search the recruiter's name, look up the company’s official site, check that the email domain is a match, and look for copy-paste job descriptions. Be skeptical if anything feels off.
- 7. Avoid reshipping and mystery shopper roles
These jobs are almost always scams flagged by the Postal Inspection Service and the Better Business Bureau.
Protect yourself and your family by signing up for Lifeguard. Lifeguard provides scam alerts and job offer protection for peace of mind.
What to Do If You Are a Victim
If you or a loved one lost money or shared personal info with a job scam, act fast. Quick action makes a real difference.
- 1. Stop all contact and save everything (Do immediately)
Keep all messages, emails, checks, shipping labels, and receipts. You will need these records for your bank, law enforcement, and filing official reports.
- 2. If you sent money, contact your bank or card company (Do immediately)
Call your bank or the card issuer immediately to report the scam and ask for a refund or freeze. For gift cards, call the issuer listed on the card right away.
- 3. If you deposited a fake check, notify your bank (Do immediately)
Let your bank know this was a scam. Ask them about options for reversing the transaction or limiting further loss. Save copies for investigators.
- 4. Report the scam to the authorities (Within 24 hours)
Within 24 hours, visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov and IC3.gov to file a complaint. If cryptocurrency was used, include wallet addresses to help investigators.
- 5. If mail or packages were involved, contact USPIS (Within 24 hours)
File a report with the United States Postal Inspection Service for help in mail fraud and reshipping cases.
- 6. If you shared your Social Security or ID info, visit IdentityTheft.gov (Within 24 hours)
Follow the guided recovery plan and strongly consider a credit freeze with all three bureaus to protect your identity.
- 7. Tell the site or platform where you found the job (Within 24 hours)
Notify the host so they can remove the fake ad and warn other users.
- 8. Watch your accounts and set up alerts
Monitor your bank, credit card, and payroll accounts for any suspicious activity. Set up text or email alerts to track changes and activity.
- 9. If you handled money or packages, review money mule guidance
Read the FBI’s warnings for money mule victims and talk to local police if you are worried about possible criminal exposure.
- 10. Learn from enforcement alerts and refunds
Stay aware of the latest FTC actions and consumer alerts. Recoveries do happen, as seen in recent refunds to job training scam victims.
For official reporting and help, use ReportFraud.ftc.gov, IC3.gov, USPIS, and IdentityTheft.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most remote jobs are legitimate, but be careful with unsolicited offers that start by text or chat and ask for money or personal details. Always verify with the company’s official career page.
A recruiter asking to interview only through social chat apps is a classic scam sign. Real employers use phone or video interviews and company email addresses.
Legitimate employers do not send checks and require you to buy equipment or send gift cards. Your bank can reverse fake checks, leaving you with the loss.
Avoid any job that requires upfront fees. Government jobs never charge to apply. Real employers usually handle background checks directly through trusted vendors and never with gift cards or wires.
Federal roles are always listed on USAJOBS. USPS does not charge for applications or exam prep. Verify the listing on the official website.
Go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan, place a fraud alert or credit freeze right away, and closely monitor your accounts.
File complaints at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, IC3.gov, and USPIS for mail fraud. Always report suspicious job ads to the site or app where you found them.
Yes. Task scams often require payment in crypto either to participate or to withdraw earnings. These payments are difficult or impossible to recover.
Protect Your Family from Job Scams
Get peace of mind with scam alerts and identity protection for every job seeker in your household. Sign up for Lifeguard to avoid employment scams before they happen.
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