In the past few years, there has been a sharp rise in recruitment scams targeting both job seekers as well as those who are not actively looking for work. These scams are not only becoming more frequent, they are becoming more convincing making them increasingly harder to detect. At the core of these fraudulent schemes are scammers posing as legitimate recruiters who contact unsuspecting victims with the promise of a job.

How Fake Recruiters Catch Victims

Scammers often impersonate reputable well-known companies or even pretend to come from job-seeker platforms such as LinkedIn or Indeed. By presenting themselves as credible recruiters they aim to lure victims into handing over sensitive information, such as ID documents or passports, under the guise of a verification. Others also demand upfront payments for fake training sessions or “onboarding fees.”
Fraudsters typically reach out directly over WhatsApp, Telegram or text message, crafting messages that aim to look professional and promising. The job offers will often sound like the so-called “perfect job” with minimal hours, high pay and exceptional benefits that can be achieved easily without a lengthy traditional hiring process. In today’s job market, such offers can be tempting which is exactly what scammers are counting on.
In 2023, a global cybercriminal network launched a massive recruitment scam on WhatsApp where they would pose as prestigious job-seeker platforms such as Indeed and Reed with “job offers” promising easy money and flexible hours. The network impersonated over a thousand companies and targeted more than 100,000 people across the world. In total, it is believed that they stole an estimated $100 million from unsuspecting victims.
In an age where finding work is becoming increasingly difficult, it can seem appealing when a “recruiter” reaches out with an amazing job offer but there are certain things to look out for to prevent becoming a victim to a scam like the one seen in 2023.

Ten Red Flags to Watch For:

1.   Does it sound too good to be true? If someone reaches out offering a job with high pay, minimal hours and fantastic benefits and it all sounds too good to be true – it probably is. Unrealistic offers should be treated with caution.

2.   Unsolicited offers: if you receive a job offer out of the blue on WhatsApp or via text message without applying for one or giving prior consent, be cautious. Legitimate employers will rarely reach out.

3.   Unverifiable information: scammers will be vague about details of the job or company they are “recruiting” for. Legitimate recruiters should be willing to share company information such as website, name, location as well as a detailed job description.

4.   Demanding an upfront payment: it is extremely unlikely that a job would be asking for payment of any description for any purpose. If someone is demanding that you pay for training, materials etc. – be wary.

5.   Requesting personal information: employers will typically require personal information later in the hiring process, not immediately upon offering a job offer. Be especially careful if someone is asking you to provide personal documents such as ID or passport as well as personal information like bank details.

6.   Unprofessional communication: legitimate recruiters will use professional email addresses, not Gmail or Yahoo addresses. Pay attention to the legitimacy of a company’s email domain.

7.   Poor grammar, spelling, and formatting: scammers will often send messy text messages riddled with grammar and spelling mistakes. If you notice these, along with a strangely formatted message with bold letters, italics or irregular spacing, it is likely a scam. Professional recruiters will have highly revised messages that are correct in grammar and formatting.

8.   No interview process: if the whole hiring process is done on a messaging platform or through text, with no online or in person interview, treat it with suspicion. Legitimate recruiters will always want to meet candidates and have an interview.

9.   Fake or suspicious websites: scammers will often create a website that imitates a legitimate company or appears to be a legitimate website. Check the website thoroughly for company information and check for a lock symbol in the browser search bar which legitimises a safe website.

10.  High-pressure tactics: if you are being pressured into making a quick decision by “recruiters” saying “The offer won’t last long, act quick!”, take your time and do more research before communicating further.

Ultimately, you want to trust your gut if you someone reaches out with a job offer. If any of the above are spotted or something just does not feel quite right, take a step back and re-evaluate the conversations, messages and offers. Legitimate recruiters would never force or rush a candidate into taking an offer so trust your instincts, and if you detect something strange, cease communication immediately and block and report the sender.

Sources

https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/this-massive-new-spoofing-campaign-is-targeting-job-seekers-so-watch-out 
https://www.staffingindustry.com/news/global-daily-news/scammers-impersonate-adecco-hays-and-other-staffing-firms-whatsapp-phishing 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-68110626 
https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/scam-alert-job-scams-to-watch-out-for-aGT6A6D3uzZI 

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice and is not guaranteed to be accurate, complete, reliable, current or error-free.