Blog
September 26, 2025
Job hunting in today’s market is stressful enough without the added risk of running into a fake job. Unfortunately, job scams are on the rise, and it seems they’re getting more sophisticated. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost over $220M to job scams in just the first half of 2024, with reports of “task scams” alone making up nearly 40% of all fraudulent job complaints (source). Add to that the frustration of “ghost jobs”-more on those later-and it’s no wonder candidates are feeling burned out.
These scams are not only a huge waste of time, but they can cost you money, expose your personal information, and hurt your confidence during an already mentally exhausting process. Let’s break down the most common types of these scams and how to spot them.
Common Job Scams You Need to Know
Task Scams
These scams lure you in by offering easy money for simple online tasks, such as liking videos, writing product reviews, or doing small data entry projects. They often pay you small amounts at first to build trust. But eventually they ask you to pay a fee to unlock higher-earning tasks and once you do, they disappear.
Red flag: If a job promises quick cash for mindless online tasks or you’re asked to pay money in order to earn money, it’s almost certainly a scam.
Pay-To-Play Scam
So, you’re offered a job… exciting, right? But first, you need to pay for training, software, or equipment before you can get started. They will promise to reimburse you later, but it never happens.
Red flag: No legitimate employer will ask you to pay up front.
Fake Check and Reimbursement Scam
You’re sent a check for office expenses and equipment. Then you’re asked to deposit or transfer part of it to a vendor, only to find out the check bounces, leaving you on the hook for the money you sent.
Red flag: You should be suspicious of any employer who sends you money before you actually start working.
Impersonation Scams
Scammers pose as recruiters from real companies, sometimes even copying logos, email domains, or using names of actual employees. Communication often happens over email or text, “interviews” are strictly email or software (assessments, etc.) based, and you’ll even get an offer without speaking with anyone live. What happens after you accept? You onboard with the company and share sensitive data, putting you at risk for identity theft and/or a number of other scam possibilities follow. The impersonation is just the setup. The hook is to build legitimacy by using a trusted brand’s name and branding.
Red flag: Unofficial email domains, requests to communicate outside standard channels, and/or never speaking with someone over the phone or via video indicate a scam.
Too Good to Be True Jobs
We’ve all seen them… “Make $5,000 a week working from home, no experience necessary!” Promises of high pay for minimal effort. These posts prey on job seekers’ hopes for flexibility and financial security. These are designed to hook people quickly, especially those eager for flexible or remote work.
Red flag: Compensation is wildly out of line with industry standards, especially for entry-level or flexible hours work.
How to Spot a Scam Posting
- Money up front? Walk away. Legitimate employers don’t ask you to cover costs before you’re hired.
- Unprofessional communication. Poor grammar, inconsistent company info, or recruiters contacting you only via text (WhatsApp or Telegram included).
- Pressure. If they say you need to act now or there’s “limited spots available”, otherwise risk losing the opportunity? Bye. Legit companies don’t operate this way.
- Requests for personal data too soon. Employers don’t need your social security number, ID, or banking info until after you’ve accepted an offer and have officially starting onboarding as a new employee.
But What About “Pipeline” or “Ghost” Jobs?
Not every job posting that doesn’t lead to an offer is a scam. Sometimes companies post “pipeline” roles, collecting resumes for future needs or advertising a job they expect to open later. Other times, “ghost jobs” stay online because budgets are on hold. While I think companies should be clearer when posting a pipeline-only role, it is much different than an actual scam that has ill intent. Pipeline/ghost postings might be a waste of time, but they aren’t trying to steal from you. Scam postings are designed to take advantage of you–financially, personally, or both.
Bottom Line
When in doubt, verify! Check if the job is listed on the company’s official careers page, look up the recruiter’s profile, and ask questions about the role, company, and hiring timeline/process. Transparency is usually the line that separates a legitimate employer from a scammer and authentic companies will always respect that due diligence.
