Looking for work? Keep an eye out for job scams
The rise of technology has made us more connected than ever. Job hunters can search for a new role with the click of a button. Tinder and other dating apps allow us to find romance online. The rise of cryptocurrency and online investing has created new opportunities for financial growth. But while the internet offers convenience and opportunity, it has also become a powerful tool for cybercriminals and human traffickers.
Among these dangers, job scams have become increasingly prevalent, targeting vulnerable individuals who are in need of employment.
This is the first blog in our Stay Scam Smart series, where we’ll explore different scams, how to spot them, and what you can do to protect yourself.
What are job scams?
Job scams are fraudulent job offers that are deceptive or dishonest towards those seeking legitimate employment opportunities. They often try to get money, personal information, or free services from job seekers.
Job scammers use various different tactics to achieve their goals. Here are some common types of scams to watch out for:
Fake job listings: Job scammers post too-good-to-be-true job ads on popular job search websites like LinkedIn and Indeed. Once you’ve applied for a position the scammer may request valuable personal information from you, such as your banking information, pictures of your driver's license, home address, or social security number.
Email or text message job offers: Scammers may pose as a recruiter and reach out to you directly after finding your contact information online. This could be through email, text message, or another messaging service like WhatsApp. While legitimate recruiters may reach out to you with information about potential jobs, they will never ask you for sensitive information.
Work-from-home scams: Scammers advertise remote jobs that promise flexible hours and decent pay. These positions may appear legitimate, but they usually require victims to pay upfront for training, materials, or software. Once the victim pays, the job either doesn't exist or work any payment is never provided.
Imposters: Job scammers will pose as a particular company, government agency, or hiring firm. They may create a fake website that replicates the company’s real one to collect your personal information or ask for money or gift cards up front as a recruiting fee.
Visa or work-abroad scams: Scammers target people seeking work abroad, promising a job in a foreign country, offering to cover visa and travel expenses. Once the victim arrives, they find the job doesn't exist, or the job, living conditions, and/or payment is not as it was described.
Phishing scams: Job seekers receive emails or messages that appear to be from reputable companies, requesting them to fill out job applications or enter sensitive personal information. The emails look legitimate, but contain links to fake websites designed to steal personal information
Job scams have become alarmingly common, and data shows they are still on the rise. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) overall reported losses on job scams tripled from 2020 to 2023. Additionally, data from The Identity Theft Resource Center shows that job scams increased by 118% in 2023.
Job scams aren’t just a distant threat – they're happening in our communities, too. In 2022, The Edmonton Police Service received 148 reports of employment scams with a total financial loss of $359,831.
These figures only capture reported cases of job scams. Not everyone files a formal complaint or chooses to involve law enforcement following a scam, thus the true number of victims is likely even higher.
How AI is fueling job scam growth
With advancements in technology and artificial intelligence (AI), job scams are more convincing than ever.
While scammers were once constrained by their language skills and their ability to maintain conversations with potentially hundreds of victims at one time, AI developments over the last few years are making it easier for scammers to create the content they need, and on a larger scale.
While grammatical errors or awkward phrasing may once have been a tip-off that a job posting is phony, the rise of large language models like ChatGPT has made it easy for scammers to check their work. AI can quickly create convincing, professional-looking job descriptions and postings that mimic those of real companies.
Beyond ChatGPT, scammers are increasingly using AI tools that allow for real-time face swapping. This technology allows scammers to alter their appearance for video calls, making them realistically appear to be a different person.
How to spot a job scam
Anyone can fall victim to a job scam. Scammers are experts at what they do, and job scams have become increasingly sophisticated and harder to spot.
While the tactics may vary, job scams often share some common warning signs and red flags:
The wage offered is much higher than the average for similar jobs or seems too good to be true.
The employer asks you to pay fees or purchase equipment upfront. Legitimate employers will not ask candidates to pay to get a job or to pay for job-related expenses.
The job details are vague, or you can’t find much information about the company online.
There is no formal interview process prior to getting the job offer, or the interview is conducted through Google Hangouts, Telegram, WhatsApp or another texting app.
The job posting isn’t on the real company's job page.
You need to supply your credit card or bank account information to the employer.
Emails are sent from free accounts such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail, instead of from a domain containing the company name.
You need to pay to get the job.
Recognizing the warning signs of a job scam can help protect you from financial loss and potential exploitation. Research any job offer you receive thoroughly, talk to trusted friends and family members about the job offer, and above all, trust your instincts if you believe something isn’t quite right.
How job scams can lead to human trafficking
Job scams don’t just lead to financial loss or identity theft. Traffickers may use these fraudulent postings as a way to lure individuals looking for employment into labour trafficking situations. These scams prey on vulnerable individuals who may be facing financial hardship, immigration challenges, or limited job opportunities.
These scams often feature fake job listings that promise high wages, flexible hours, and enticing opportunities. Once a victim accepts the fraudulent job, they may face coercion, withheld wages, or threats against their safety or family. The trafficker may offer to cover “recruitment fees” or travel costs for the worker, leading to a debt bondage situation where the worker is forced to work to repay the debt. The trafficker may also confiscate the workers identity documents to restrict their freedom of movement. Certain groups, such as migrant workers, students, and low-income job seekers, are at higher risk.
What to do if you encounter a job scam
If you believe you’ve encountered a job scam, the first step is to stop all communications with the potential scammer. Do not respond to any further calls, emails, or messages from them, and block them on all communication platforms. Do not send them any money or personal information.
If you have already provided personal information to a scammer, such as banking details or your social security number, contact your bank and local fraud prevention agency to monitor for fraudulent transactions and/or identity theft.
Reporting a scam helps authorities take action and prevents others from becoming victims. You can contact your local police department to alert them of a potential scam, and report the scam to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre on their website, or by calling (888) 495-8501. Job platforms and websites typically have a mechanism for reporting scams as well, to ensure they are removed from the platform as quickly as possible.
If you believe a job scam is linked to human trafficking, contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-833-900-1010, or through the chat function on their website.
If you spot a job scam, don’t just walk away: report it, warn others, and protect your information. Taking these steps helps fight back against scammers and keeps job seekers safe.