Warning signs of a fake job offer
You are asked to pay
Real employers don't charge you to apply, to be trained or to get equipment. If someone asks for money, gift cards or cryptocurrency before you start, stop there.
You receive a check and are told to send part of it back
A common trick is to send a check for "supplies" or "equipment" and ask you to forward some of the money to a vendor. The check later bounces, and you lose whatever you sent.
The whole process happens over text or a chat app
Large employers do use online applications and automated messages. But a hiring process run entirely through a messaging app, by someone you can't verify, is a red flag.
The offer comes too fast or pays too much
Be careful if you get an offer without applying, or right after a short chat, especially for a remote job that promises high pay for little work.
The email address doesn't match the company
Messages from a free email account claiming to come from a large company deserve a second look. Check the domain after the @ sign.
They ask for sensitive information too early
Employers need your Social Security Number (USA) or Social Insurance Number (Canada) and bank details for payroll, but only after you accept a real offer, not to "review your application."
How to check whether an offer is real
- Go to the company's official careers site yourself, by typing the address or searching for it, not by clicking a link in the message.
- Look for the same job there. If you can't find it, contact the company through its official website.
- Search the recruiter's name or email address together with the word "scam."
- Never move money for an employer you haven't met or verified.
Where to report a job scam
- USA: the Federal Trade Commission, at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Canada: the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
If you already sent money or personal information, contact your bank right away and report it.
JobNook Hub will never ask you for money, your SSN or SIN, or your bank details. If someone claims to be us and asks for any of these, it isn't us.
Official sources
Written by the JobNook Hub editorial team. We write practical, plain-language guides for hourly job seekers and check facts against official sources. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
