How to Protect Yourself From More and More Job Scams

Job seekers are falling victim to more and more job scams. In fact, in a recent survey, 40% of US adults seeking employment in 2025 admitted to falling for a job scam, with half of those having their personal data or money stolen.

These incidences, in addition to encounters with ghost posts, AI recruiters, and increasingly frustrating online job boards, are not just demoralizing. They can also be extremely risky. However, there are ways to protect yourself so you don’t fall victim.

Recognize the warning signs of job scams

The first step in protecting yourself is to learn to recognize the warning signs of increasingly common job scams. These warning signs and red flags include:

1. Job postings that seem too good to be true

While many job seekers still want remote work opportunities, they are becoming rare, especially ones with a high salary.

If a job posting sounds appealing to a broad audience, and promises a high salary and a very flexible schedule or remote option, be on alert. It could potentially be a fake post, created by scammers posing as legitimate companies to collect your personal data.

2. Urgent requests to interview you

If you receive an unsolicited request to be interviewed, and the request makes it sound like you need to respond immediately to hold an interview slot for you, this is a huge red flag. These requests will say things like, “Act now to confirm your spot!”

They also include links which appear to be actual Teams or Zoom links. Instead, they are fake links created to either install malware on your computer or capture your sensitive information.

3. Any ask for money

Some scammers will tell you you’re hired and then ask you to send money to cover the costs of a computer or other equipment. After they receive your money, they ghost you.

Or, they’ll send you a fake check before your first day on the job, claiming it’s to be used to cover the costs of equipment or training materials, and then ask you to deposit it and transfer part of it to a third party.

Legitimate companies will never ask you to send them cash for equipment. Nor will they ask you to forward funds on their behalf.

4. Having to jump through hoops for your salary

Scammers have found new ways to trick and exploit job seekers using cryptocurrency.

They pose as legitimate company recruiters for online-only positions. But after the hiring process, the scammers make you complete several tasks and jump through hoops to receive your pay, which requires you to deposit your own money via cryptocurrency for the job to be completed.

By familiarizing yourself with these warning signs, you can be on alert, do your research, and move forward with caution.

Additional ways to protect yourself from job scams

There are several other ways to protect yourself from more and more job scams.

One, is to change the way you search for jobs. Most people look to online job boards when conducting a job search. But this is where many of the job scams described above originate from, resulting in increased risk and a lot of wasted time.

I advise my clients to steer away from online job boards, and instead spend their time and energy on networking and other job board alternatives.

I’ve developed a system to help clients avoid the frustrations of job boards altogether, and with better results. Click here if you’d like to learn more about this system.

Finally, always listen to your gut and trust your instincts. You have them for a reason!

Source: Nashville Business Journal