Fake Job Offer Scams: Red Flags and What to Protect
A fake employer wants your money or your identity. Learn the signs before you share either.
By Siddharth ShankarUpdated October 22, 2026The FTC’s red flags for job scams include ads that guarantee you a job, promises of big earnings from working at home, and fees for training, certification, equipment or supplies. No legitimate company will send you a check and tell you to send part of it on, or to buy gift cards. Check the employer by searching its name, email and phone number, then confirm on its official website, and report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Share ID and bank details only once you have verified the job.
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Job scams work because people applying for work expect to hand over details. A fake employer asks for the same documents a real one would, then uses them.
The warning signs the FTC lists
The FTC’s consumer advice on job scams points to several red flags:
- Guaranteed jobs. “Never respond to ads guaranteeing you’ll get a job.” A genuine employer cannot promise to hire you before it knows you.
- Big earnings from home. Ads that promise large pay for working at home are suspicious, because nobody can reliably predict what you will earn.
- Secret government jobs. Real federal openings are listed publicly on USAJOBS.gov, so be wary of “previously undisclosed” government jobs.
The money requests
Upfront fees. The FTC warns that scammers may say a job is waiting if you pay a fee for certification, training, equipment or supplies. Paying does not get you the job, and you usually will not get the money back.
The check trick. According to the FTC, no legitimate company will ever send you a check and then tell you to send on part of that money, or to buy gift cards. The check is fake, and the money you send is lost.
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The data requests
The FTC page focuses on money. The identity risk is the same story in another form. A fake employer that asks for a copy of your passport or driving licence, your Social Security or national ID number, or your bank details before any real hiring step is asking for what identity thieves need. Treat that as a reason to stop and verify.
How to check a job
- Search the employer’s name, email address and phone number online, as the FTC advises.
- If you recognise the company, check its official website, or call or email it to confirm the job is real.
- Look for listings on legitimate sources, such as your state’s CareerOneStop job bank.
- Be careful when an offer arrives from a stranger by text or chat app after you posted your resume.
Why you get these offers
Scam recruiters find targets from public profiles, job sites and leaked data. Your public details help them look credible. Review what strangers can see on LinkedIn and see how details spread in how scammers get your phone number and email.
If you have already shared details
- Stop all contact and do not send more money or documents.
- Change passwords on any account you shared, and check for identity theft.
- Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, or to your national fraud agency outside the US.
Sources
- FTC Consumer Advice: Don’t let job scams block your path forward (April 9, 2021) (red flags, fees, check scam, how to verify, where to report)
Frequently asked questions
What are the main signs of a fake job offer?
The FTC lists guaranteed jobs, big pay for working at home and fees for training, certification, equipment or supplies.
Will a real employer send me a check and ask me to send some back?
No. The FTC says no legitimate company will send a check and tell you to send on part of the money or gift cards.
How do I check an employer?
Search the company name, email address and phone number online, then confirm on its official website.
Where do I report a job scam?
In the US, at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Should I send my ID before I am hired?
Verify the employer first. A request for ID or bank details early in the process is a red flag.
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