Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsNever pay money to get a job, and do not trust an offer until you have verified it through the employer using contact details you found independently. Scammers can post on legitimate job sites, impersonate real companies, and use polished websites or interviews. If you have already paid or shared sensitive information, act quickly: contact your payment provider, report the scam, and use the appropriate identity-theft recovery resource.
How to spot a job scam
No single warning sign proves an offer is fraudulent. Instead, look at whether the employer and opening can be verified independently, how the hiring process unfolds, what information or money is requested, and how the recruiter wants you to pay.
- An unexpected offer or vague job details: A message may arrive by text, WhatsApp, social media, email, or a job platform, with little explanation of the work or how the recruiter found you.
- A rushed or unusual hiring process: Be cautious of a text-only interview followed quickly by a job offer, especially if you cannot confirm the opening through the employer.
- Requests for sensitive information too soon: A recruiter may ask for your Social Security number, bank details, or identity documents before you have established that the job and employer are genuine.
- Any demand for money to get or keep the job: Scammers may call it an equipment, training, certification, or placement fee. Legitimate-looking explanations do not make an upfront payment safe.
- A check followed by instructions to send money elsewhere: The supposed employer may send a check for equipment or expenses and ask you to return part of it, pay a vendor, or buy gift cards. The check can later be rejected, leaving you responsible for money you sent.
- “Task” work that requires a deposit: An unexpected message may offer commissions for “product boosting” or “optimization.” A site or app can display supposed earnings, then demand that you deposit your own money—often cryptocurrency—to continue tasks or withdraw the balance. An in-app figure is not proof of wages.
- Reshipping work: An offer to receive packages and send them elsewhere is a warning sign described by the FTC; do not assume it is a legitimate job because the recruiter provides a company name or instructions.
A personal email address, a company logo, an interview, or a website can be clues to examine, but none settles the question by itself. Scammers can imitate employers and create a convincing online presence. The FTC’s job-scam guidance and 2025 alert on spotting job scams describe these patterns.
How to verify an offer before responding
- Find the employer’s official website yourself. Do not use a link or phone number supplied only by the person who contacted you. Locate contact details through a source you independently trust.
- Check the official careers page. Look for the same role and relevant details, such as location and job description. If it is not listed, contact the employer using its independently located details to ask whether the opening and recruiter are genuine.
- Search the company and recruiter names with “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” Treat results as clues, not proof: a lack of complaints does not guarantee the offer is legitimate.
- Pause before sharing personal or financial details. Verify the opening and employer before giving a recruiter identity documents, a Social Security number, or bank-account information.
- Talk it through with someone you trust. A second person may notice pressure tactics or inconsistencies that are harder to see when you are focused on a promising offer.
These checks can help you assess an offer, but a website alone cannot establish that it is genuine. The FTC’s guidance for remote job seekers recommends independently verifying employers and warns about impersonation and early requests for sensitive data.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
What to do if a recruiter asks for money
Do not pay to obtain a job, pay an upfront placement fee, or follow a recruiter’s instructions to send funds. In particular, do not deposit a check to buy equipment and forward an “overpayment,” buy gift cards, or send money by wire or cryptocurrency. A temporary balance shown after depositing a check does not prove the check is genuine. The FTC explains that task scams can also show fake earnings before demanding a deposit in its 2024 task-scam spotlight.
If a supposed employer has sent a check, do not send money back or pay a vendor with it. If you have already deposited it, contact your bank promptly, explain that you suspect a fake-check scam, and ask what steps to take. Do not assume funds are safe to use just because they appear in your account.
What to do if you paid or shared information
If you sent money
- Contact the payment provider immediately. Tell the company or service you used that the payment was connected to a suspected scam, and ask whether it can be stopped or reversed.
- Report the suspected scam. File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and report the listing or message to the website or platform where it appeared. The FTC also identifies your state attorney general as a reporting option.
Whether a payment can be recovered depends on the payment method and circumstances, so contact the provider as soon as possible.
If you shared personal or financial information
Use IdentityTheft.gov to report identity theft and get a recovery plan. If you shared bank-account information, contact your financial institution promptly to explain what happened and ask how to protect the account.
Where to look for U.S. government jobs
The FTC points job seekers to official government resources. Applying for federal and U.S. Postal Service jobs is free.
Quick Recap
- USAJobs.gov for federal jobs.
- USPS Careers for U.S. Postal Service jobs.
- CareerOneStop for job and training resources.
- USA.gov’s state government directory for local government job resources.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
