How to spot a fake or scam job posting

Warning signs

Any one of these is reason to stop and check:

• You're asked to pay for training, a background check or equipment.
• You're sent a check to deposit and asked to send part of it back.
• An offer comes without an interview, or after a chat-only interview.
• Emails come from a free address or a domain that's close to, but not, the company's.
• Pay is far above what similar roles post, for little experience.
• You're asked for your bank details, ID or Social Security number before a written offer.

Check it's real

Find the role on the company's own careers page by going to the company's site yourself, not through a link in a message. If it's not there, treat the listing as fake. Check that recruiters' emails come from the company's domain, and look them up on the company's site or a professional network.

Real ones can still be stale

Not every bad listing is a scam. Many are real roles that were filled long ago and never taken down. Checking the company's own job board catches both: if it's listed there, it's real and open.

If you were targeted

Stop replying, don't send money, and report it to the job site and, in the US, to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you shared bank or ID details, contact your bank and watch your credit.