How do I spot a fake job offer email?
Fake job offer emails promise remote roles with high pay and ask for personal data or fees before employment — a real job offer comes after an interview and never requires an upfront payment.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Unsolicited job offer emails claim to have found your CV and want to offer you an immediate position. The role sounds ideal — remote, well-paid, flexible — and the hiring process appears very straightforward. No traditional interview is required, often just a brief online questionnaire or a short text exchange with a 'hiring manager'.
The fraudulent intent emerges in two ways. First, the 'employer' may request personal documents — passport scan, proof of address, National Insurance or Social Security number — for 'background checks' or 'payroll setup' before any signed contract exists. These details are used for identity theft. Second, you may be asked to purchase equipment, pay for training, or buy a DBS check or work permit through a specific provider. These fees disappear with the job offer.
A third variant is the cheque overpayment scheme: you are sent a cheque for your first month's salary plus a 'bonus' or 'equipment fund', asked to deposit it and wire a portion back. The cheque bounces days later, and you owe the full amount you wired.
Legitimate employers conduct proper interviews, provide a formal contract before requesting sensitive documents, and never ask new employees to pay fees or purchase equipment through external links. Verify the company name independently and call their listed HR number before responding to any such email.
Common red flags
- You did not apply for this role but received a direct offer
- Salary is extraordinarily high for the role described
- No proper interview — only a quick chat or online form
- Asks for passport, bank details, or government ID before a contract exists
- Requires payment for equipment, training, or certification through a specific vendor
- Sends an overpayment cheque and asks you to forward the difference
- Company cannot be verified through an independent web search
What to do now
- Do not provide personal documents or pay any fee
- Search the company name and job title independently to verify the role exists
- Call the company's listed HR number — not a number in the email
- Report the email to Action Fraud or the FTC and to the job board it came from
- If you already shared documents, file a fraud alert with credit bureaus
- If you deposited a cheque, call your bank immediately before wiring any funds
Frequently asked questions
Can headhunters approach me without a prior application?
Yes, genuine headhunters do reach out on LinkedIn and by email. The difference is that a legitimate headhunter introduces the company, discusses the role in detail, and schedules a real interview — they never ask for fees or documents upfront.
What if the company name is real but the email address looks off?
Fraudsters use real company names to gain credibility. Verify the job role on the company's actual careers page and call their switchboard to confirm the vacancy.
What is a money mule job scam?
Money mule roles present as legitimate payment processing or logistics jobs. You are asked to receive money in your bank account and transfer it onward. This is money laundering and can lead to criminal prosecution.