How to Identify Remote Job Fraud Schemes

Hello Network! After 9 years in staffing and recruitment, I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Unfortunately, in recent years, scammers have taken to the staffing industry to exploit vulnerable job seekers and diminish the reputation and intentions of genuine recruitment professionals. Luckily, the corporate marketing team at Vaco has prepared a list of red flags to look out for to help you, your friends, and your family avoid scams during your job search. Read and share to protect yourself and others! 🚨 Avoiding Employment Scams 🚨 With the increase in employment scams, scammers are pretending to be recruiters, preying on job seekers to exploit their personal information and sometimes swindle their money. Stay vigilant! An authentic Vaco recruiter would never request candidates to engage in any of the following: ❌ Provide personal banking information, e.g., account/routing numbers, debit/credit card numbers, or PIN numbers ❌ Pay a fee to apply to, interview for, or accept a job through Vaco ❌ Invest in a product or service ❌ Purchase equipment ❌ Cash checks on Vaco’s behalf ❌ Make a wire transfer ❌ Share personal information like driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, or Social Security numbers over the phone, text, or email ❌ Extend a job offer via email or social media ❌ Extend a job offer without prior communication, introductions, or interviews ❌ Pressure candidates to respond by saying a job opportunity is only available for a limited time, e.g., “This opportunity is only available for 24 hours, so reply now!” If you have been contacted by someone claiming to represent Vaco or one of our brands, please visit our website to report the suspicious activity. https://lnkd.in/e7-UANd3 #fraud | #recruiterfraud | #jobsearchtips

Over the past few months, my LinkedIn feed has been full of people open for work; I know how challenging the job market is. At the same time, my TikTok feed has been full of victims who have received job offers, only to find it was a scam after either giving them personal data or worse, having money stolen from them. For those of you in the job market, I want to offer a few tips: -- If someone reaches out to you directly about a job, do everything you can to verify that they are employed by the company or search firm they claim to be. Check their LinkedIn profile to make sure they have verified their workplace (Verifications are located directly under the summary section). Make sure the email address they provided has the correct company domain; check the domain spelling carefully. --If someone reaches out to you about an entry/mid-level role that typically has many qualified applicants, be suspicious. In this job market, those are not roles where recruiters need to actively recruit; they can find great candidates simply by posting the role. -- When applying for jobs directly, try to do so from a trusted source (e.g., the company's career site, LinkedIn.) Be wary of small career sites. If you find a job posted that looks interesting, check on the company's career site to see if the role is posted there. If it's not, walk away. -- NEVER give personal data (e.g., date of birth, driver's license/passport/social security number, etc.) over the phone or through a non-secured email exchange. --NEVER EVER transfer money or use your own funds to purchase anything needed for the role. They often "wire money" or send you a check to deposit in your Zelle account that ultimately bounces after you have transferred funds back to them. A legitimate company will ship required equipment to you directly. If you are asked to go buy it, walk away. -- If the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you get the sense that something is off, don't be afraid to visit the company website, find a email address for general inquiries & ask them to verify that the role is legitimate and that XX recruiter is working on it. Job scams enrage me because criminals are preying on incredibly vulnerable people who can't afford to lose money. I know the emotional toll job hunting can take on a person. To think you have finally made it to the other side only to realize it was all a con is gut wrenching. I don't usually ask this, but please share this on your feed and add additional tips that I haven't mentioned. Recruiters are a community; we have to look out for job seekers, treat them with respect, and help them find real work.

The Spam in My Pocket: A Recruiter’s Take on the Rise of Scammy Job Texts This morning, I woke up to another unsolicited job text. “Hi, I’m Lily from KLARNA…” it began—offering $500 a day for 90 minutes of remote work, “free training,” and a suspiciously vague task involving “visibility and bookings.” Here’s the thing: I’m a recruiter. I live and breathe this industry. And even I had to blink twice. These kinds of messages are everywhere now. Dressed in language meant to sound official, generous, and urgent—while hiding the fact they’re likely scams trying to bait job seekers into giving up personal info or worse. I get the appeal. People are looking for flexible work. They’re burned out, underpaid, and trying to make it all work. And yes—legitimate recruiters DO use text messaging to reach out to talent. But here’s the problem: scam texts are flooding the zone, making it harder for real opportunities to break through the noise. It creates mistrust. It makes people skeptical of even real offers. And it pollutes the very channels recruiters use to do good, honest work. So, here are a few real-world tips to spot a fake job text before it wastes your time (or compromises your data): 1. Too good to be true? It probably is. $500/day for 90 minutes of remote work? Sounds amazing. Too amazing. Most jobs that pay that much require a lot more than a resume forwarded by “online agencies.” 2. Check the company’s official channels. If Klarna—or any company—has 20 urgent remote openings, you’ll see it on their Careers page. You won’t only hear about it via a 7:10 AM iMessage. 3. No professional email, no deal. If a recruiter’s reaching out, they should have a verifiable email, LinkedIn profile, and some kind of online presence tied to the company or agency they represent. 4. Watch for vague roles. “Helping merchants update data” and “increasing bookings” without any mention of the actual job function? That’s a smoke signal. 5. Ask questions. A legitimate recruiter won’t panic if you ask who they report to, what department they’re in, or how they got your information. A scammer will. We’re in a weird moment in recruiting. AI-generated messages, offshore text blasts, and predatory scams are muddying the waters. If you’re job searching, stay sharp—but don’t get jaded. There are still real people doing real recruiting with care, integrity, and transparency. You just have to know how to separate the signal from the noise. And recruiters? Let’s take back the credibility of our craft. — Want help spotting shady outreach? Drop a comment or DM me. We’re in this together. #recruiting #jobsearch #scamalert #talentacquisition

I've reached my limit with job scams. It's unacceptable that people are being exploited during their job search. I'm sharing this to help others avoid the same frustration. In today's competitive job market, vigilance is key. Scammers are increasingly sophisticated, targeting job seekers with fraudulent offers. Here's how to spot potential red flags in job interview and offer emails: 1. Verify the Sender: Cross-reference the sender's name and title with the company's official website, LinkedIn, and platforms like Glassdoor. If you can't confirm their association, proceed with caution. 2. Email Domain and Addresses:Legitimate companies typically use professional email domains. Be wary of emails from generic addresses like Gmail, Outlook, or Hotmail. 3. Pay close attention to CC recipients. Mass emails to multiple personal email addresses are a significant warning sign. 4. Unrealistic Promises:"Too good to be true" offers regarding salary, benefits, or work hours should raise immediate suspicion. Research industry standards to gauge realistic expectations. 5. Excessive Detail in Initial Contact:While some information is necessary, an interview request laden with excessive details, especially financial or personal, is a potential red flag. 6. Suspicious Links and Meeting Platforms: Be cautious of direct, specific links to Zoom, Teams, or "chat" platforms provided in unsolicited emails. Verify meeting details through official company channels. 7. Requests for Payment or Personal Financial Information: Legitimate employers will never ask for payment or sensitive financial details during the initial stages of the hiring process. 8. Lack of Professionalism in Signatures and Branding: Look for proper company logos, HR contact information, and professional signatures. The absence of these elements is a major warning sign. 9. Absence of Company HR Identification: A legitimate company will have a HR department. If there is no mention of HR, or a way to contact them, be very concerned. At last but not least, stay informed and protect yourself. Share these tips with your network to help others avoid falling victim to job scams. If you encounter a suspicious offer, request for interviews or requesting other information, report it to the relevant job board and authorities. #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #ScamAlert #JobScams #LinkedInTips #FraudPrevention #HiringTips

15 Signs a Job May Be a Scam Sadly, scams are everywhere. I see new coders falling for these schemes far too often so I thought I'd share warning signs that you might have encountered a job scam. If you notice any of the following or feel like something is off, trust your instincts. 🚩 Facebook - person posts about a job and says to inbox or DM for details; comments are often turned off 🚩 Recruiter uses an email address not associated with the employer (e.g. Gmail) 🚩 Recruiter uses an email address that appears to be associated with the named employer but has careers- added at the beginning of the employer name (example: name@careers-orlandohealth[dot]com) 🚩 Use of kindly in communication 🚩 Atrociously bad grammar, poor spelling, improper punctuation, and irregular and/or unneeded spaces 🚩 Wants to conduct interview on Whatsapp, Signal, Telegram, or similar app 🚩 Details are vague and sparse 🚩 Seems too good to be true - higher pay than customary, completely flexible, specifically states can keep children while working, etc. 🚩 You didn't apply for the position (tracking your applications helps avoid this one) 🚩 Job doesn't exist in the company's career website (Google company name + careers to find this portal yourself) [NOTE: I have encountered a couple of small companies that do not have a career portal and ONLY hire via Indeed or some other job board so this is not always the sign of a scam.] 🚩 Recruiter isn't found on LinkedIn or in the company's directory 🚩 SSN, bank info, and other sensitive information requested during the interview process 🚩 Easily "hired" - many people have reported receiving a job offer after one simple interview 🚩 Interviews are ONLY conducted through email. 🚩 An assessment is emailed to be completed and sent back; often 25+/- questions [NOTE: Some legitimate employers do conduct assessments this way so don't automatically think it's a scam if this is the only red flag.] 🚩 A check will be sent for you to purchase equipment [This is ALWAYS a scam.] What other signs set off red flags in your brain?

ALERT: Scammers are hijacking job ads. "Scammers are taking ads from real employers, changing them, and posting them on employment websites and career-oriented platforms like Indeed or LinkedIn. The modified ads seem to be real job offers with legitimate companies. They’re not." Some tricks to watch out for: - They reach out to you via social media or teams - They use a public email address such as gmail.com or outlook.com - The website or email address is slightly off from the real companies address - They send you a form asking for personal information - They set up a quick interview and something seems off (call only, too short, too basic, poor audio, no video, not professional) - The offer comes very quickly - THEY SEND YOU A CHECK! yes, seems odd right? It is. An honset employer will never send you a check. A common trick is they send you a check to buy a computer so you can start your remote job. You deposit the check and everything seems fine. Then they ask for a portion of the money to be sent back (insert made up reason here), you send them back part of the money. A few days or weeks later the check they sent you bounces. It can take up to 21 days for a check to clear, they take advantage of that. Be a cybersecurity savvy job seeker!  If you experience any doubt about the validity of an interview or job offer, reach out directly to the company’s HR team via their corporate website and/or through employees on LinkedIn.  Ask questions.  You may end up uncovering fraudulent activity and protecting people from these bad actors. I am seeing this happen a lot recently and it is hard to see hopeful job seekers be preyed upon. PLEASE SHARE and HELP SPREAD THE WORD.

Job seekers beware! Job and employment scams are on the rise, and while some are fairly obvious, the advancement of generative AI has made others harder to spot. Scammers use stolen credentials to create fake profiles and fake listings on legitimate job platforms, create AI-powered phishing campaigns aimed at job seekers, and even deploy deepfake technology to conduct fraudulent “interviews.” Don’t just rely on your gut – to protect yourself from employment scammers, follow the S.A.F.E. approach: Scrutinize the company: Cross-check company details on sites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and official company websites to verify their legitimacy. Avoid providing sensitive information or payment details to unverified sources: If a prospective employer asks for upfront payments for training materials, certifications, or background checks, it's probably a scam. Under no circumstances should you provide a Social Security number, banking details, or credentials to an unverified employer. Focus on the job posting: If a job seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be cautious and skeptical about job postings that offer unrealistic salaries or require little to no experience for remote work. Examine the job offer: Be cautious of AI-generated communications or offers sent through informal channels like text messages, WhatsApp, or generic non-business email accounts. Do not respond to requests to contact someone on a personal device for more information. It’s tough out there – and sadly that presents another opportunity for scammers to exploit vulnerable people. Education and awareness are your first line of defense. Remember: If in doubt, slow down, take a moment, and play it SAFE! You can also help protect others by reporting suspected scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center: https://msft.it/6045ScXoR What are some employment scams you’ve encountered? #Cybercrime #Fraud #EmploymentScams #AI

Scammers want you scrambling. Let’s disappoint them. Scammers exist. And they waste your time ⏳, your energy ⚡, and your hope 💭. Job hunting is already hard enough. We don’t need scammers preying on people who are doing their best to move forward 💼. This isn’t about panic 😱. It’s about staying clear, calm, and aware 🧘♂️. Sometimes my clients get approached. And they don’t get tricked — in part because they’re getting coached 🎯. They’ve got backup. Someone helping them spot what’s real… and what’s not. Here are: 10 Signs That Job Might Be a Scam 1) They contact you out of nowhere Didn’t apply — and they’re already offering a job? 2) Too-good-to-be-true salary $125K for remote data entry? 🚩 3) No phone or video call Avoids Zoom. Won’t hop on the phone. Wants to “chat” over text 📱. 4) Email doesn’t match the company domain Like hiringteam@careers-fast.net claiming to be from Microsoft 💻. 5) Vague job description “Work with a dynamic team” = a whole lot of nothing 🫠. 6) The role makes zero sense for your background You struggle to change your screensaver — and they want you managing a data center? 🤔 7) They send you a check It “clears.” You send money. Then it bounces 🧾. Classic scam move. 8) Super fast “interview” No questions. No real process. Just “you’re hired” ✉️. 9) They’re impersonating something real The company is legit. The person is real. The one messaging? Not who they say they are 🎭. 10) It just feels off Your gut doesn’t lie. Trust it 💡. 🛡️ Pro Tip: Scammers rely on distraction 🌀, urgency ⏰, and ambiguity 🌫️. Focus and deliberate clarity change everything. Share this post to help your fellow job seekers steer clear 🚫🎯

Did you know that fake job offers are now one of the most prolific and rapidly growing scams in the US? Scammers are continuously refining their techniques and expanding their reach. What's most alarming is the volume of job scams, which were among the top ten scam categories in 2023, with a dramatic 150% increase in financial losses compared to the year before. According to the Better Business Bureau, employment scams cost workers about $2 billion in direct losses each year. The revenue these scammers bring in is why these scams aren't going anywhere. In a challenging economy, scammers prey on the vulnerability of job seekers. With money being tight due to high inflation and soaring costs, many people fall victim to these scammers because they know how to come across as sincere and promise much-needed money quickly by impersonating well-known companies. Be leary of "too-good-to-be-true" job listings! Watch out for roles promising FULLY REMOTE or FREELANCE opportunities with HIGH "promised" salaries/wages. DO NOT give your banking information, social security numbers, and physical address to anyone you do not know. If someone is only interacting with you via WhatsApp, RUN 🏃♂️ 🏃♂️ 🏃♂️ If the "recruiter" tells you that you need to pay for equipment and will be paid back, this is a SCAM. If the person reaching out to you gives you their name, look them up on LinkedIn or the company website they say they're from to verify. If you can't find them, they likely don't exist. If the person reaching out to you has an email address from Yahoo, Gmail, Outlook, or AOL and is not from the company they say they're from, this is a sure sign they're scamming you. This text message was received by someone who emailed me directly yesterday evening, questioning its authenticity. The person going by "Alina Pace" does not work for Monarch Talent Solutions, and the woman who contacted me to verify the message did her research and wasn't scammed. Our world is upside down, ya'll. Stay vigilant, and don't fall victim to these jerks.

Fake recruiters and bots are getting bold on LinkedIn — but here’s one red flag I keep seeing: Zero connections and a hyperlink posing as the number of followers. That little detail? It’s easy to miss — but it’s a big giveaway. You’ll open the profile and see something like: “Followers: [23,000]” — but when you hover or click, it’s a sketchy link. They’ll have no real connections, barely any content, and sometimes a generic headshot that looks like it came straight from a stock photo site. Then the message hits your inbox: “Hello Dear, I saw your impressive profile. Kindly click this link to apply for a remote job opportunity…” No role description. No company details. Just a link. In this economy, with so many people actively searching, these scams aren’t just annoying — they’re harmful. They prey on vulnerability, urgency, and trust. Here’s how to spot the red flags: Zero to 1 connections, and no meaningful LinkedIn activity A sketchy hyperlink masquerading as follower count Generic job messages with no personalization Asking for sensitive info upfront (passport, bank info, etc.) Pushing you off-platform to WhatsApp, Telegram, or a third-party link Let’s protect our community. If you see it — report it. If you’ve experienced it — share your story. The more we speak up, the harder it becomes for scammers to hide. Have you seen this happen? Drop the red flags you’ve spotted in the comments. #FakeRecruiters #LinkedInScams #JobSearchTips #OnlineSafety #JobHunt #OpenToWork #ScamAwareness #LinkedInSecurity #HiringRedFlags #CareerSupport #DigitalLiteracy #ProtectYourPeace