How to Tell if a Job Posting Is a Scam

A job posting is likely a scam if it asks you to pay money, to share bank or government ID details before an offer, or to move the conversation to a private chat app, and if the pay looks far too good for the work. Real employers hire through verifiable channels and never need your money to start a job.

What do scam postings have in common?

They promise high pay for little experience, use urgent language, give a generic company description and avoid specifics about the work. Many contact you first from a free email address or a messaging app, rather than a company domain.

What should a real employer never ask for?

A real employer should not ask you to pay for training, equipment, a background check or an application fee. They should not ask for your bank login or full card details, and they should not ask for sensitive identity numbers before a formal offer and onboarding. Treat any request to deposit a cheque and send part of it elsewhere as a scam.

How do I verify a company and recruiter?

Find the company's own website and careers page, not a link from the message, and check whether the job is listed there. Check that the recruiter's email matches the company domain. Search the company name with the word scam and look at independent reviews. Call or write to the company using contact details you found yourself.

What about interviews held only by chat?

Interviews conducted entirely through text on a messaging app, with no video or phone call and no named interviewer, are a warning sign. Legitimate employers usually have a named person, a company email and a clear process.

What should I do if I think I have shared too much?

Stop contact, keep copies of the messages, and contact your bank at once if you shared financial details or sent money. Change passwords if you shared any. Report the posting to the job board and to the relevant consumer protection or fraud authority in your country.

How can I check the wording of a posting?

The Rezumz Job Description Red Flag Checker scans pasted text in your browser with no account and flags vague, hype and pressure wording, with questions to ask. It cannot prove a posting is real or fake, so always verify the employer independently.