Job Scam Detector

The job scam epidemic

Job scams are among the fastest-growing forms of fraud globally. With the rise of remote work and online job platforms, criminals have found it easier than ever to impersonate legitimate employers and target job seekers — particularly those who are unemployed, in financial difficulty, or looking for flexible work.

According to the FTC, Americans alone reported losing over $500 million to job scams in 2024. The real figure is likely much higher, as most victims never report. Globally, the International Labour Organization estimates that job scams affect millions of people annually, with significant concentrations in Southeast Asia, West Africa, and Eastern Europe.

Unlike other scams, job fraud is particularly damaging because it exploits people when they are most vulnerable — actively looking for income. Victims don't just lose money; they often also lose time, personal data, and confidence.

Most common types of job scams

Work-from-home data entry scams

Promises of easy remote work entering data, evaluating social media posts, or filling out forms for high hourly pay. After paying a "registration fee" or completing "training," the work either doesn't exist or pays pennies.

Package reshipping (mule jobs)

You are hired to receive packages at your address and forward them elsewhere — often to another country. In reality, you're handling stolen goods purchased with stolen credit cards. You receive nothing, and you may face criminal liability.

Fake recruiter / LinkedIn scams

A recruiter contacts you on LinkedIn, WhatsApp, or email with an exciting opportunity. After a quick "interview" via chat, you're offered the job — and asked to pay for background checks, certifications, or equipment. Legitimate employers never ask candidates to pay anything.

Advance fee job scams

You must pay an upfront fee — for registration, training materials, uniform, or visa processing — before you can start. Once you pay, the "employer" disappears.

Crypto investment job scams (pig butchering)

You're hired as a "crypto analyst" or "trading assistant" and slowly taught to invest in a fraudulent platform. After investing increasingly larger amounts, the platform disappears with everything.

9 red flags in job offers

1. You didn't apply: Legitimate recruiters do reach out, but unsolicited offers for high-paying easy jobs are almost always scams.
2. Unrealistic pay: "Earn $800/day from home with no experience." Real entry-level remote jobs pay market rates, not multiples of them.
3. Vague job description: Real jobs describe specific responsibilities. Scam posts use terms like "data processing," "online assistant," or "task completion" without specifics.
4. Interview via chat only: No video call, no phone call, just WhatsApp or Telegram messages. Legitimate companies conduct proper interviews.
5. Hired instantly: Offered a job after a 10-minute chat with zero real assessment of your skills.
6. Upfront payment required: Any request for payment before starting — for registration, training, equipment, or background checks — is a scam.
7. Personal data requested early: Asking for your bank account, national ID, or Social Security number before you've signed any contract.
8. Company is hard to verify: No online presence, a recently created website, no employee reviews on Glassdoor or LinkedIn.
9. Communication through personal channels: Real recruiters use company email addresses, not personal Gmail or WhatsApp accounts.

How legitimate hiring actually works

Understanding what real hiring looks like helps you spot fakes:

• Legitimate employers never ask you to pay anything during the hiring process.
• Real job interviews involve at least one video or phone call with a named person you can verify.
• Contracts are signed before any personal banking information is shared.
• Company email addresses (not Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail) are used for communication.
• You can independently verify the company, the recruiter's LinkedIn profile, and the job posting on the company's official website.

What to do if you suspect a job offer is a scam

1. Paste the job offer or recruiter message into our detector above for an instant analysis.
2. Search for the company name + "scam" or "review" online.
3. Verify the recruiter on LinkedIn — check if they have a real profile with verifiable connections.
4. Contact the company directly through their official website to confirm the job exists.
5. Never pay any upfront fee, regardless of the explanation.
6. Never share banking details or national ID documents before signing a real contract.
7. Report to your local consumer protection agency and the job platform where you found the listing.

What to do if you already sent money or shared data

1. Stop all contact with the scammer immediately.
2. Contact your bank to attempt a chargeback or freeze further transactions.
3. Change passwords on any accounts where you used the same credentials.
4. Report identity theft if you shared your ID or Social Security number — contact the relevant national identity fraud agency.
5. Report the scam to the FTC (USA), Action Fraud (UK), or your national cybercrime unit.
6. Warn others by reporting the job posting on the platform where you found it.