Fake Job Sponsorship Visa Scam on LinkedIn
Fake recruiters on LinkedIn offer jobs with visa sponsorship attached, then request upfront fees for 'sponsorship processing' or 'visa filing' that a real employer would never charge a candidate.
Part of: Fake Job Sponsorship Visa Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Visa sponsorship is a genuine part of international hiring, and many employers on LinkedIn really do sponsor candidates. A polished recruiter profile, sometimes mirroring a real company's branding, extends a job offer with sponsorship included, runs an informal interview over chat or a video call, then explains that a visa filing fee, sponsorship processing charge, or 'refundable deposit' must be paid to secure the position. Because real sponsorship does involve government filing fees, the request sounds plausible. The distinction that matters most: legitimate employers absorb those costs themselves; an offer that requires the candidate to pay first is not real.
How this scam works on LinkedIn
A recruiter profile, sometimes closely mimicking a real company's branding, messages a jobseeker with an offer that includes visa sponsorship as part of the package. After an informal interview process — often conducted entirely over chat or a single video call — the 'employer' explains that the jobseeker must pay a fee to cover visa filing, sponsorship processing, or a 'refundable deposit' to secure the position, sometimes citing immigration law requirements that don't actually exist. Because real sponsorship processes do involve government filing fees (which legitimate employers typically absorb, not the candidate), the request can seem plausible to jobseekers unfamiliar with standard sponsorship practices. Once the fee is paid, the job offer evaporates, the recruiter profile is often deleted or blocked, and the company either doesn't exist or has no record of the position or offer ever being made.
Common red flags
- Job offer requires the candidate to personally pay a visa sponsorship or filing fee
- Recruiter's LinkedIn profile is newly created or has few mutual connections with the claimed company
- Entire hiring process happens through chat messages with no verifiable company email domain used
- Company's official careers page has no listing for the position being offered
- Urgency to pay the fee quickly to 'lock in' the sponsorship or start date
How to protect yourself
- Verify the recruiter's identity by checking the actual company's official careers page and contacting HR directly
- Remember that legitimate employers typically cover visa sponsorship costs, not the candidate
- Insist on communicating through a verified company email domain rather than only LinkedIn messages
- Research the company independently, including checking for other employees on LinkedIn who can confirm the recruiter's role
- Never pay a fee to secure a job offer or visa sponsorship
How to report it
- Report the recruiter profile to LinkedIn using the platform's reporting tool
- Report the scam to the real company being impersonated so they can warn other applicants
- File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov describing the fraudulent job offer
- Report compromised payment details to your bank if you already paid a fee
Frequently asked questions
Does LinkedIn verify that recruiters and job postings on the platform are legitimate?
LinkedIn does not fully verify every recruiter's identity or that a posted job is genuine, so a professional-looking profile alone isn't proof of legitimacy. Cross-checking the position against the company's official careers page and contacting their HR department directly is a more reliable way to confirm a job offer is real.
Is it normal for any part of visa sponsorship to be paid by the employee?
In most legitimate hiring situations, employers cover the core costs of sponsoring a work visa as part of the hiring process, so a request for the candidate to personally pay a 'sponsorship' or 'filing' fee is unusual and should be treated as a red flag. Specific arrangements can vary, so it's worth discussing directly with a licensed immigration attorney if you're unsure.
What should I do if I've already paid a fee to a fake recruiter on LinkedIn?
Report the recruiter's profile to LinkedIn immediately, contact your bank or card issuer to ask about disputing the charge, and file a report with the FTC describing the fraudulent job offer. Also notify the real company being impersonated so they can warn other applicants.
Should a job candidate ever pay for visa sponsorship costs?
Legitimate employers typically cover the costs of sponsoring a work visa as part of hiring, so a request for the candidate to personally pay a sponsorship or filing fee is a strong sign of fraud.
How can I verify a LinkedIn recruiter is really from the company they claim?
Check the company's official careers page for the listed position, and try contacting the company directly through its official website rather than only communicating through LinkedIn messages.