You're scrolling through job listings, and something catches your eye. Great pay. Remote work. Flexible hours. Apply in under five minutes.
It feels like luck, but it might just be a trap.
Employment scams are one of the fastest-growing types of fraud in the country, and they're getting harder to spot. Here's what they look like, and how to protect yourself before you hand over anything that matters.
What these scams actually look like
Most job scams follow a familiar playbook. The employer contacts you first. Through LinkedIn, Indeed, a text, or even an email. The offer feels almost too convenient for where you are right now.
The job description is vague, but the pay is specific. Interviews happen over text or chat, never video. You get hired unusually fast, often without speaking to anyone.
Then comes the ask.
Sometimes it's your Social Security number and bank account for direct deposit setup. Sometimes they mail you a check and ask you to forward part of it to a vendor or buy gift cards for equipment. Sometimes it's just your personal information. Enough to open accounts in your name.
The check bounces. The job never existed. And you're on the hook for whatever you sent.
Red flags worth knowing
- You didn't apply. They reached out to you.
- The pay is unusually high for the work described.
- The company name is slightly off ("Amazzon" or "Microsofft")
- You're asked to buy gift cards, forward money, or cash a check.
- Communication only happens over text, WhatsApp, or Telegram.
- They ask for personal documents before an actual job offer.
What to do if something feels off
Trust that feeling. Search the company name plus the word "scam." Look up the job posting on the company's official website. If it doesn't exist there, that tells you something.
If you've already shared personal information, contact us right away. We can put protections in place for your account and help you figure out the next steps. You can also report job scams at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
You didn't do anything wrong by hoping a good opportunity was real. These are designed to fool people. The best defense is knowing what to look for before you're already in the middle of it.