Personal Advice: The Job That Costs You
September - October 2026
The Job That Costs You: Spotting Fake Job Opportunities
Searching for a new job can be exciting but stressful. Whether you are looking for your first role, changing careers or returning to work after a break, almost all job searches now begin online. Scammers exploit this by creating convincing fake job advertisements, posing as genuine employers and targeting people looking for work.
These scams often target people under pressure to find work, who may act quickly without fully considering the risks or checking that an opportunity is genuine. A fraudulent recruiter may offer an attractive salary, promise flexible remote working or rush the hiring process to discourage applicants from carrying out the usual checks. Some ask applicants to pay for training, equipment or administrative fees; others seek sensitive information such as passport details, banking information or copies of identification documents.
Victims may suffer financial loss, identity theft or malware infections after opening malicious files sent by a fraudulent employer. These incidents can also add anxiety and stress to an already challenging time
Staying alert to scams, recognising warning signs in job postings and verifying potential employers can help reduce your risk and protect you during your job search.
What are fake job scams?
Fake job advertisements can appear in emails, text messages, social media and online job boards. Cybercriminals pose as legitimate employers, recruiters or agencies to steal money or personal information, or gain access to your device. Even large, trusted job-search platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed and Glassdoor can carry fraudulent listings.
How do fake job scams work?
A typical scam might begin when someone applies for a role and receives an unusually quick response offering them the job without an interview. The only condition is that they must pay the company for training or administrative fees. Once the money is sent, the recruiter disappears.
Other scams involve requests for copies of identification documents. Applicants may be asked to upload a passport, proof of address or driving licence, which the cybercriminal then uses to commit fraud.
Applicants may also receive a file that appears to be a legitimate training document, application form or interview preparation guide. Instead, it could contain malicious software designed to infect and compromise their device.
Recent Local Incidents
A fake employment opportunity claiming an association with the social media platform TikTok has recently been reported on the Island. The scammers claim to work for TikTok’s Business Partnership department and promise £180 to £200 a day, along with sign-up bonuses, referral incentives, trips abroad and other prizes to entice people to take part.
People are initially contacted through WhatsApp and asked to complete simple tasks in return for small payments. These payments build trust and make the opportunity appear legitimate.
Once trust has been established, victims are offered further tasks with promises of larger payments and the prospect of permanent employment.
To complete these tasks, victims are encouraged to pay significant sums of their own money, with the promise that the funds will be returned in full, together with a commission, once all tasks are complete. In reality, these promised earnings never arrive, and the scammers keep the victims’ money.
This case highlights a common tactic in fake job scams: using small initial payments to create a false sense of legitimacy before persuading victims to commit increasingly large sums of their own money.
What are the signs to look out for?
Whether you are a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, recognising the warning signs of fake job postings is essential to protecting your time, money and personal information. Key signs that an online job listing may be fraudulent include:
- Vague descriptions of the role: No company name, unclear responsibilities or expectations, or no way to find out more about the role.
- Roles offering an unusually high salary: Pay significantly above typical rates for very little experience or effort.
- Unprofessional communication: Poorly written messages, spelling or grammar mistakes, or communication limited to messaging apps.
- Hiring on the spot: A job offer with little or no interview process.
- Requests for sensitive information early on: Requests for passport scans, identification documents, banking details or National Insurance numbers before a formal hiring or contract-signing process.
- Requests for payment: Legitimate employers do not usually ask applicants to pay for training, equipment or administrative fees.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
How can you verify a potential opportunity?
Before proceeding with a job opportunity, take time to independently verify that both the role and the organisation are genuine.
First, visit the company’s official website and check whether the vacancy is listed. Compare the publicly available contact details with those in the job advertisement. If you are unsure, contact the organisation directly using the details on its official website.
Search for the recruiter or agency online. Look for an official website, company information and independent reviews.
Check email addresses in the listing carefully. Scammers often use addresses that resemble those of a genuine company but contain spelling mistakes or extra characters.
Try a quick online search using terms such as:
“[Company] recruitment scam”
“[Company] job scam”
“[Recruiter Name] scam”
Other victims may already have reported similar experiences or shared them online.
Keep in mind
Genuine employers look for talented people who are the right fit for their organisation. They should not pressure you into making payments, sharing sensitive information or downloading unfamiliar software. If an opportunity feels pressured, secretive or too good to be true, pause and verify it independently before continuing with your application.