How to spot a fake job advertisement in 2024

Job fraud is on the rise.

And as a working professional, whether you're actively looking for work, occasionally looking for work, or not looking for work at all, it's important that you stay alert and aware of these scams and how they operate so you don't fall for them.

In 2023 alone, there was a 118% increase in job scams compared to the previous year, and since many scams go unnoticed, that doesn't even count those that go unreported, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center's Trends in Identity report.

Forbes36% of job advertisements are fake – How to spot them in 2024From Rachel Wells

The same report identified some key trends specifically related to fake or fraudulent jobs, including:

• “Identity thieves are becoming increasingly better at looking and sounding 'legitimate,' especially in job postings. This is likely related to generative AI,” the report said.
• The state with the highest number of recorded job scams and other employment-related fraud last year was California.

All this news comes at a time when the unemployment rate in the United States has risen to 4.3% in July 2024, the highest level since 2021. As a result, there are naturally more people currently looking for work – increasing the risk of even more people falling victim to these scams.

How do you recognize a job scam?

Fake job postings can be quite convincing if you're new to the job market or urgently looking for a job, but that's when you should be most vigilant.

The ITRC's Identity Trends Report mentioned the following tactics used by job advertisers with fake job postings who are actually identity thieves:

“In 2022 and early 2023, thieves primarily used victims' social media accounts to target not only victims but also their networks of family and friends. In 2023 and into spring 2024, we saw an increase in identity thieves creating fake job postings on legitimate networking and job search sites and tricking victims into applying for jobs,” it continues.

“The scammers created professional-looking LinkedIn profiles or profiles on job sites with live websites for bogus companies or posed as legitimate companies and used a fake name or the name of a former employee to schedule interviews. Once a victim believed they had a legitimate request for an interview, the interview process was moved from the original platform to email, text, video conferencing platform or a third-party messaging app. Victims were told they would need to fill out 'paperwork' and provide proof of identity – either before or after they were offered a 'job.' Most victims found nothing strange – we are in a new era of remote work, and using technology to communicate is perfectly normal.”

Do you recognize yourself in any aspect of this scenario?

The next question is: How do you even recognize these fake jobs so that you don’t waste your time on “interviews” and reveal personal, sensitive information for jobs that don’t even exist?

How to recognize fake job advertisements

Here are some helpful tips to help you spot fraudulent job postings or headhunters before scheduling an interview or offering yourself a job:

1. Today, many job scammers make random, unexpected and unsolicited calls and/or send text messages through messaging apps like WhatsApp. Be aware of unexpected calls or messages from people posing as recruiters or talent managers. Some obvious warning signs to look out for when you receive one include the fact that you never asked them to contact you, never heard of them or their company/agency, never gave them your number, and that when you respond asking for more details, they respond vaguely and evasively and demand immediate action.
2. You may also receive an unexpected email or text message informing you that you have a very narrow window of time to schedule an interview – one you didn't even know you were applying for. It will come across as very urgent, so you'll be tricked into scheduling the interview without thinking everything through carefully first.
3. If a job posting sounds too good to be true, it probably is. For example, if it's an entry-level position, such as in customer support or a back office function, but promises a $90,000 salary, remote work, and all the benefits you could dream of without any skill requirements, it's a scam.
4. Be careful when applying for positions labeled as “data entry jobs.” Data entry jobs are usually the target of scammers because they promise quick and easy money.
5. Check reviews and company reputation. Any company hiring should have at least an online presence. This includes their website, social media channels, and Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor pages. If they can't be found anywhere and don't have contact or address information listed anywhere on Google, it's because they don't really exist and don't want to be tracked down.
6. Only trust websites that have a “Verified” check mark next to their web address on Google. Always trust the advice of your antivirus software and stay away from a website that is flagged as suspicious.
7. Finally, if the hiring process requires an upfront payment, uses overly colloquial language with spelling mistakes, or the person contacting you does not use a business email address, it is a scam.

Be careful and trust your instincts. By paying attention to these signs and doing your due diligence, you can avoid falling victim to fake job postings and protect yourself from identity theft.