Job Scam Checklist: Verify Before You Apply
A job scam checklist gives you a reason to pause before an exciting offer becomes a costly mistake. Check the organization, the role and the application process independently. A familiar logo, professional-looking website or friendly recruiter is not enough on its own.
Verify the employer through a separate route
Find the company’s official website independently instead of using only the link in a message. Look for the role on its careers page and compare the title, location and job reference. If something does not match, contact the organization through contact details you found yourself.
Check the sender’s address carefully, including spelling and domain. A matching display name is not the same as a verified email address. Small inconsistencies may have an innocent explanation, but they are a reason to investigate before sharing information.
Stop at requests to pay for access to earnings
Be wary of work that requires you to deposit money, buy cryptocurrency or pay to unlock tasks or withdraw supposed earnings. The FTC’s job-scam guidance also warns about fake checks and requests to send part of the money elsewhere. A balance appearing in an account does not necessarily mean a check is genuine.
Do not let a countdown, a promised bonus or a small initial payment replace verification. A professional hiring process should allow you to ask reasonable questions.
Check whether the work is clearly described
- What tasks will you perform?
- Who is the employer or contracting organization?
- What is the interview or assessment process?
- How is compensation calculated?
- Where can you read the written terms?
Vague answers combined with unusually high rewards deserve extra scrutiny. No single clue proves that a job is fake, but several warning signs together should make you stop and verify.
Share information in stages
An initial application usually needs less information than formal onboarding. Before providing sensitive identity or banking details, confirm who is collecting them, why they are needed and how the secure onboarding process works. Do not put identity-document numbers or bank details in a public resume.
For a portfolio, use work you have permission to share and remove confidential information. A request for private customer records or your former employer’s internal files is not a normal way to demonstrate your skills.
If you already responded
Stop sending information or money while you verify the situation. Save relevant messages, addresses and transaction details. If money was transferred, contact the payment provider promptly through its official channel. In the United States, you can report suspected fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If identity information was exposed, use IdentityTheft.gov for recovery guidance.
Do not pay someone who promises guaranteed recovery of lost funds. Keep evidence for reporting rather than confronting the sender with more personal information.
Common questions
Does a video interview prove a job is genuine?
No. It is one part of a process, not independent verification of the employer or offer.
Are all unsolicited recruiter messages scams?
No. Treat them as unverified until you confirm the recruiter and role through an independent channel.
What if an application is on a known job board?
Continue checking the employer and instructions. A listing’s location alone does not replace due diligence.
If you notice a suspicious listing on IRHIRE, contact the IRHIRE team with the public listing link and a description of the concern. Do not send passwords or private identity documents.