The rise of job offer scams and how you can protect yourself!

For many, a new job opportunity can bring a mix of emotions – from hope and excitement to relief. Whether you’re starting a new chapter, looking to boost your income or searching for stability, it’s important to keep your guard up against scams. Criminals take advantage by offering fake job roles in an attempt to steal your money or personal information.

These scams often arrive out of the blue, dressed up as tempting job offers with high salaries, generous bonuses, and minimal effort required. Criminals may text you on message, WhatsApp, or social media such as TikTok and Instagram, or even call you out the blue.

Job scam text examples:

To help you stay safe, here are some of the red flags to watch out for:

• You receive a phone call or message from someone claiming to be a recruiter or company representative, even the HR department, but something feels off.
• They say they’ve reviewed your CV or profile, but you never applied or shared it with them.
• The role sounds suspiciously easy for the money being offered. For example, you’re told you’ll earn £300-£800 a day simply by reviewing online products or liking social media posts.
• They ask you to complete a “trial task” to prove your suitability, often linked to a payment or upfront fee.
• There’s pressure to act fast, share your personal or financial information, or make a payment to “secure your position.”

These scams prey on urgency. They count on the hope of a new opportunity or the idea of making quick and easy money to put pressure on you to act immediately. But there are ways to stay one step ahead of the scammers:

• Stop and think. Who is really offering me that job?
• When searching for a job, start with legitimate company websites or platforms you trust. If a recruiter reaches out, take your time to research them.
• Be sceptical of offers that promise large sums of money for little effort. If it feels too good to be true, it probably is.
• If you’re contacted unexpectedly, don’t share your personal or financial information unless you’re absolutely certain the message is legitimate.
• You should never have to pay to apply for a job or speak to a recruiter. Any request for money, whether it’s labelled as admin fees, verification steps, or application costs is a huge red flag.

Job scams are evolving, but so is our ability to spot them. By taking a moment to stop and think, asking the right questions, and sharing what you know with others, you can keep your guard up against fraud.

If you receive messages like these that have all the above red flags, report it as junk or block the sender. If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud. And always remember:

• Stop: Take a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information. It could keep you safe.
• Challenge: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
• Protect: Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve been scammed and report it to Action Fraud.

The rise of job offer scams and how you can protect yourself | Take Five