How do I spot a fake job recruiter?
Fake recruiters offer jobs with unusually high pay for minimal qualifications and eventually ask for fees or personal documents — legitimate employers never charge candidates to apply or onboard.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Fraudulent job postings and fake recruiters target people who are actively job hunting and therefore highly motivated to engage. The initial contact usually comes via LinkedIn, Indeed, or email, and offers an attractive role with above-market salary and vague requirements. The 'recruiter' communicates urgently, skips normal interview steps, and extends an offer very quickly.
The scheme unfolds in one of two directions. In the fee-based version, you are told you need to pay for a background check, training materials, equipment, or a DBS certificate before you can start. Once paid, the recruiter disappears. In the data-harvesting version, you are asked to provide extensive personal details — passport scan, National Insurance or Social Security number, bank details for 'payroll setup' — which are then used for identity fraud.
Authentic recruiters and employers never ask candidates to pay fees. Background checks and DBS certificates are arranged by the employer at their cost after an offer. Payroll details are collected through official HR systems after you have verified your employment contract with a named company.
Verify recruiter identity by looking them up on LinkedIn and checking that their profile has a plausible history and connections. Search the company name independently — do not click links the recruiter sends — and call the company's listed phone number to confirm the vacancy exists.
Common red flags
- Salary far above market rate for the stated role and experience
- Job offer extended without a proper interview
- Request to pay fees for background checks, training, or equipment
- Asks for passport scan, bank details, or National Insurance number before contract
- Recruiter profile has few connections, no work history, or was created recently
- Communication only on personal email or WhatsApp, not a company address
- Vague job description that could apply to almost anyone
What to do now
- Do not pay any upfront fee
- Verify the recruiter on LinkedIn and check their employment history
- Search the company name independently and call their listed number
- Report fake job listings to the platform (LinkedIn, Indeed) and to Action Fraud or the FTC
- If you shared personal documents, consider placing a fraud alert with the credit bureaus
- Warn others by leaving a review on a job site or scam-reporting portal
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to interview only over text or chat?
Genuine employers at least video-interview candidates before offering a job. Text-only recruitment with a quick offer is a strong warning sign.
What if the company name looks real?
Scammers use real company names. Always go to the company's website independently to verify they are hiring for the role described.
What are 'work from home reshipping' job scams?
These ask you to receive parcels and forward them abroad, making you an unknowing money mule for goods purchased with stolen cards. Participation can lead to police investigation.