Scam › Module 2 › Lesson 1
Fake Job Scams
Spot fake recruiters, advance-fee job offers, and scam interviews before you send money or data
Opening
The offer that is too easy
High pay, almost no experience required, hired after one chat, starting today. That fantasy is exactly what job scammers sell. Fake job scams steal money, identity documents, and sometimes access to your banking apps—while you think you are onboarding.
1. Common Fake Job Patterns
Advance fees
Pay for training, a uniform, software, or a "background check" before you earn anything. Real employers generally pay you, not the reverse.
Equipment / check scams
They send a fake check to buy a laptop, ask you to wire leftover funds, then the check bounces—you owe the bank.
Identity harvest
Requests for passport, national ID, selfie with ID, or bank details before a clear signed offer.
Chat-only "HR"
Everything happens on Telegram/WhatsApp with no company email, no career page, no verifiable manager.
2. How to Verify a Role
Search the company domain yourself. Find the role on the official careers page. Call the main switchboard number from the company website (not a number the recruiter texted). Check LinkedIn profiles for real employees—new accounts with stolen photos are a clue. Be especially careful with "reshipping," "payment agent," and "crypto clerk" remote roles that involve moving other people's money.
No fee, no hurry wire
If a job asks you to pay or move money before your first paycheck, treat it as fraud until proven otherwise through official channels.
Knowledge Check
Which request is a major red flag in a job offer?
Multiple choice
Knowledge Check
True or False: A recruiter who only messages on WhatsApp and never uses a company email can still be fully trusted.
True or False
Knowledge Check
Safest way to confirm a recruiter is real?
Multiple choice