5 Signals the Job is a Scam

John Krautzel
Posted by in Career Advice


After spending countless hours investigating open positions and conducting job searches online, some job seekers are roped into job scams. Save yourself time and frustration by noting the top five signals that indicate a company might be out to scam you.

1. Immediate Job Offer

As exciting as it may sound to receive a job offer at the start of an interview, job seekers should be leery, as this practice is often associated with job scams. Although you might have dazzled the interviewer with your skills and qualifications, a reputable company takes time to consider all applicants and thoroughly vet potential employees before making an offer.

2. Impersonal Interviews

Technology has enhanced the way companies interview candidates. Instead of traveling around the country to meet face to face with recruiters, many employers opt to conduct interviews using webcams, FaceTime or Skype. While there's nothing wrong with this practice, you should be leery of a recruiter who only wants to conduct an interview using electronic methods, since this is common with job scams. You need time face to face with a potential employer to gauge whether or not the company is a good fit, and employers should desire the same.

3. Lack of Focus on Your Qualifications

Let's face it: your qualifications and skills should monopolize the interview. Companies enacting job scams are less likely to ask detailed questions about your skills and are highly likely to rush through the meeting. A reputable hiring manager should be interested in what you have to offer and is eager to discuss ways in which your skills can positively impact the company.

4. The Mysterious Company

Job scams thrive on providing vague information to job seekers. An individual representing the firm should divulge the company name and information about the duties of the job. He should also be willing to discuss future opportunities and the company culture. You need this information to conduct background research on the firm and better prepare yourself for the interview during your job search. If the hiring manager is unwilling to even name the company, it is likely he is attempting to scam you.

5. The Employee 'Investment'

Your financial future is important when negotiating salary and considering potential positions. However, you should not have to shell out any cash or invest in the company to obtain employment. Hiring managers or recruiters that require you to pay a fee to apply for a job or secure employment are likely to take your money and run.

Unfortunately, job scams are prevalent in all industries. As a job seeker, avoid getting sucked into a scam by thoroughly researching the firm and asking questions about the company's success and operations. Avoid the temptation to blindly reveal personal information about yourself that can be used to harm you personally, professionally or financially.


Photo Courtesy of Coko Lads at Flickr.com

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  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @David D thanks for your comment. Unbelievable isn't it? That these scammers think that we are that we are that stupid? I went through the same thing myself several years ago but it only took a few short minutes to realize that I was communicating with a bot. To be sure, I asked some really strange off the wall questions like what color is your blouse or what kind of car do you drive, etc. When no answers were forthcoming to my questions I got out of there. I wanted to shut them down so I contacted the real company and asked if they had an employee or manager by the name of X. They responded quickly with no and they never heard of her. So I told them that their company was being used in a scam and gave them all the information I had so that they could pursue it if they wanted. The parent company was actually out of Japan and they were extremely helpful and grateful that the scam had been pointed out to them. Personally I think that the name Alibaba would cause me to take a step back. There are so many clues to let you know it's a scam if you just pay attention. Things such as misspelled words, awkward sentence structures, unrealistic parameters such as salary being some crazy amount but no higher education or experience required and so on. We get excited when we think that we have found that one gem that we don't take the time to really investigate. Can't tell you the number of people I have heard from or chatted with who have been scammed - some of them for a great deal of money. So, the old adage if it sounds too good to be true it probably is certainly holds true here!

  • David D.
    David D.

    A scam was tried on me but I worked through the ruse by asking questions that they gave no clear answers to. The only reason I went through their routine was they were supposedly the Alibaba Group out of China. They even provided the link to their corporate website. Anyone can do that to try and a provide a level of authenticity. But I researched a little deeper and checked Alibaba's career page and found no listings for positions in my area. I could not find any references to the scammers name(s) provided. The final conclusion came when I asked to meet face to face and was told that they do all interviews and contact via Google Hangout. They wanted to send me a check to purchase office equipment so that I could work from home. There were other hiring discrepancies that I asked about that they did not do or hurriedly put into place. I told them that this was a scam and that I was not interested. Bottom line is do some research and if things don't line up; call it a scam and walk away.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Jenny M. thanks for your comment. You can contact the Attorney General's office to report them. Keep in mind that these scammers are smart. What you report today will be deleted tomorrow but we have to start somewhere.

  • jenny m.
    jenny m.

    Where could i report a company that is doing this and much worse... Like not just immoral but illegal.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Erin J thanks for your comment. Sadly there is no way to keep the scammers out. We can remove them today but they will find a way back in tomorrow. Just make sure that you take the time to really review the posting and to do your due diligence by checking them out as much as you can. If they offer something that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Just use your sound judgment and you will be fine. All the best on your search.

  • Erin J.
    Erin J.

    I have more to say about the on-line resume hi-jack; not only am I still getting the gmail emails, who ever is doing this is deleting the filled Application entries. I have notified ZipRecruitor, but I have yet to be given advice on what to do. I know you are thinking, just drop them. I wish I could, but for some positions, this is the only board that has the application! Is there anywhere or any service that is scam free?

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Jaime thanks for your comment and so sorry that you went through this. Nothing to be ashamed of as it happens to many of us. I, too, came close to leaving a current position to take another one - yep, communication was through email and texts. Something about it just didn't seem right so I contacted the "company", which was in Japan, only to find out that they heard of the person I was dealing with and to please send them any information I had on them as they were going to take legal action. I was happy to give them everything I had but, more than likely, they never found this "person". Always remember, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is! And NEVER pay for a job. There was just a news segment on my local channel about this very same thing. The lady that they were interviewing had paid quite a bit of money for the "kit" that she would need for the job - or the non-existing job! So sad and she will never see that money again. So keep your chin up @Jaime. Try finding a real recruiter who specializes in your area of expertise and see if you can't find a position through them. Or try a temp agency in your area. All the best.

  • JAIME DIMAYUGA
    JAIME DIMAYUGA

    In my recent experience, it may not even be about a financial scam. Be very careful dealing with recruiters who ONLY communicate with you via emails and text messages like I did. Left a 2 year job at a big company as I thought this was the "break" I have been waiting for to carry me back to what I used to do in production/ manufacturing. Finally I said to myself, am leaving the position which I did highly well as a call center agent in a healthcare setting and said company "used my knowledge, experience and skills in six sigma and kaizen"--- for FREE! Thinking it will lead me somewhere but later I found out it was more of who YOU know not much of what you know who can accelerate to the next better position...and this is why I found myself hooking up with this job agency based in Etobicoke, Ontario. I was misinformed that the position was a direct hire, and the employer will set up everything on first day including benefits and everything is ok! according to this agency. Well, I did not do my homework checking on them because they really were fraud experts...also known not to pay people they hire through agency (checked their web site). So I left the BIG call center where I was already making $22 per hour plus full benefits and went to this company--- "Voila!"--- after two days, I spoke with the immediate supervisor and he said-- "NOPE! We do not pay you but rather the recruiter". The recruiter emailed me a job offer a few days before I started and it was so incomplete whereby I did not sign it and responded to ask them what are the days of work, hours of work and any safety shoes needed and is there parking available? Believe me, it was a scam! Now I cannot even apply for employment insurance as this government will surely DENY my situation as NOT A JUST CAUSE! I am embarrassed even to show my face to connect back with my co-workers. Now I am even applying for janitorial work and even can't get that.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Erin J thanks for your comment. It's so true. I have encountered the same issue. I actually contacted the real company and asked to speak to the person who contacted me. They said that there was no one there by that name. So I forwarded the information on to them and they took it for action. The company was in Japan. They were very gracious about it and took over so that I didn't have to pursue it here. So scary how many people fall for these scams. Always, always do your due diligence before applying for a job. If you see something out of the ordinary or you get a bad feeling about it - back away from it. Tell them that you are pursuing another position and let it go at that. To all of those reading this, NEVER give out personal information until/unless you know that the company is legitimate. And speaking of legitimate - if a company truly is legit, they don't need to say that it's a legitimate offer! Always use caution when applying for any position. All the best.

  • Erin J.
    Erin J.

    I've had this happen a couple of times before I figured it out. They hijack you information from legit job boards and use the name of a Company that you did apply and the positioln applied for. the email reads Hello, my name is Jack Ass with company HR. The tell you the position was filled, but we have an offer for you. Personal assistant. Yoiu are told to set up a Gmail account; go hang-out and set it up. Bottom line; you have to come up with $500.00+ to get started. The worst part, the real application gets removed from your job site!

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    Thanks for the comments. @Muhammad maybe you should change up the way you are attempting to find a new position. Have you tried going through a temp agency? They are always looking for good administrative talents. How about a recruiter that specializes in office personnel? Also are you really and truly job searching or are you logging on to your computer - sporadically - and looking. Finding a job is a full-time job in itself. You need to dedicate the time and attention needed to find that next great adventure. All the best.

  • Muhammad Bilal K.
    Muhammad Bilal K.

    I am seeking for a job for couple of years online but still no authentic company or site found so far. I have a good experience of data entry and office administration skills since last 11 years.

  • Janet  R.
    Janet R.

    Thanks this has been helpful.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Jennifer thanks for your comment. So true - it's a good thing you abandoned the application. It amazes me that job seekers will input all of their information into a job application online - not even knowing for sure if there is a job or if the "company" is legitimate!

  • Jennifer Rickel
    Jennifer Rickel

    I guess I am so unique even the scammers don't want me. LOL. Thanks for your input and if or when they try to contact me I will block. I did, however, fill out an online job application that was asking for my full credit check info; SSN, DOB, so forth. I did not complete that application. :)

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @David thanks for your great comments. So very true - watch out for some of the more generic type email addresses. But remember, some legit companies will use a gmail account, too. You just have to do your due diligence on it before you take any action. Totally agree about the outrageous salaries. Just recently a friend of my family applied for and received a job offer for house cleaning. Supposedly it was for an individual, not a company. They were willing to pay $450/wk for 9 hours of cleaning. I quickly told her that it was scam but, if she wanted to pursue it, do NOT go to the interview alone. As expected - it was a scam. Another time my daughter had received a job offer from a well-known company but something just didn't ring true. We contacted the actual company, which was in Japan, and were told that there were no job openings - no openings posted by them and they never heard of the person who was supposedly doing the hiring. I gave them all of the information we had and let them take it from there. You have to remember, though, that by the time you get around to reporting these scammers, they have already moved on - new domains, new email addresses, names - the whole bit. So always always do your due diligence. Check these companies out. Doesn't take much. Do a search on the company name or email address and see what pops up. If it is a scam, you will see that in the first few results of your search.

  • David M.
    David M.

    Another clue is the use of GENERIC email domains, like YAHOO.COM, GMAIL.COM, or non-USA domain names in Africa, Netherlands, etc. I do not reply to any recruiter that sends me job offers from an email address that is generic. Yes, they could be on contract to an agency, but there is a higher probability they are not legitimate.

  • David M.
    David M.

    I have seen some of this. I have also seen more attempts at identify theft and spam contact information list building, even via faked Linked In profiles. Some of them want to collect information, tell you they submitted you to a permanent or contract job, and then never contact you again, I was contacted last year by someone who had a Linked In profile that claimed to be working for a CEO that I personally knew. I was immediately suspicious as I would have known if this CEO had hired a new assistant. I checked the profile photo via TINEYE, and found that it was for a lesser known South American porno actress. The email address was for a known spammer identified on european anti spam boards. Their purpose is to collect contact lists of people falling into various demographic and geographic categories which then can be sold to marketing and sales companies - both large and small and ethical and unethical purposes. I would also add to your list by saying some signs are (1) outrageous salaries/contract rates (both above and well below the regional market levels for those jobs. (2) rapid requests for sensitive info like SSNs (3) requests to be added into your Linked In contacts or social media contact and friend lists. (4) broken English or spellings and word usage that is not correct or appropriate for the USA. "learnt", "barrister" vs "lawyer", etc.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    Thanks for the comments. @Yevonne you are most welcome. We wish you all the best on your search. @Jennifer there are so many scams out there. You think that it's a real company until you start seeing strange things happening such as getting emails or phone calls that someone has tried to hack into your bank account or there are unauthorized charges on your credit card. These folks come in, looking totally legit, and ask you to fill out their application which includes your social security number. I know, I know - but there are many people who still include their social security number even after all of the warnings. They may keep the scam going and actually give you work to do but you won't get paid for it. By the time you realize it, you have already worked for them, for free, for several weeks and then - poof - they are gone. By the time you report them, they have changed all of their information and can no longer be found. That is the typical scam.

  • Jennifer Rickel
    Jennifer Rickel

    Call me naive but what are they scamming for? I have bene SEARCHING daily for a job since MAY and have not been scammed yet. What's the scam?

  • Yevonne Tyus
    Yevonne Tyus

    Nancy thanks sooo much for your comment on paying a fee to find a job. To me, its just a greed trip that everyone try's to get more from people who are just looking for a good job. If I had plenty of money to give out, I wouldn't need a job. I just don't have it to give. I'm glad someone finally understands that. It's too hard for me to beat the streets to go look for a job, the gas etc. They tell you to go home & fill out their app's online anyway. So I'm at the right place. Its hard for me to afford anything until I get a good job. Thanks for not charging. I'm doing the best I can.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    Thanks for the comments. No you should not have to pay to find a job. I realize that some job boards require a membership fee or other fees. Beyond does not do that. We do have products for you to purchase but they are all optional. @Shirley you would have to decide if the fee that they charge is worth the price. If you are seeing jobs for which you are a great fit, it might be worth it - if you can afford to do so. It's up to you to decide. We will never charge you a fee to apply for positions on our sites. All the best.

  • Donna L.
    Donna L.

    Great information, about looking for employment.

  • Debra Maaks
    Debra Maaks

    I also saw and considered that one, but to pay to pay to get a job is not fair. Some job boards also want to you pay to upgrade and go to premium and open the jobs you are
    looking for. If you are currenty unemployed - how can you do that??

  • Shirley Mills
    Shirley Mills

    Great information but I am looking for a work from home maybe data entry but on this one website(Momsforjobs)you have to pay to get the job. Is that plausible or shall I be skeptical.

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