Fake Interview Scams
Bogus interviews via chat used to collect personal data or push equipment/onboarding fees.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
What this scam is
A fake interview scam conducts a sham hiring process — often entirely over chat — to harvest your personal and financial details or to extract onboarding and equipment fees.
How it works
You're 'interviewed' via a messaging app, quickly 'hired', and asked to complete onboarding that requires ID, bank details, or payment for equipment. The job doesn't exist; your data and money are the target.
Common red flags
- Interview only via text chat, never voice/video
- Immediate hire after minimal questions
- Onboarding requires payment or sensitive data
- Company can't be verified
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Great news, you're hired after our chat interview! Complete onboarding by paying the [amount] equipment fee.
Payment methods used
- Equipment fees
- Bank/ID details harvested
Who is usually targeted
- Remote job seekers
- Graduates
What to do immediately
- Verify the company and interviewer independently
- Don't pay fees or send ID before verifying
- Report the listing
Evidence to preserve
- Chat transcript
- Company and interviewer details
- Any payment or documents
Where to report it
- Action Fraud (UK) — UK national fraud & cybercrime reporting centre
- FTC ReportFraud (US) — US Federal Trade Commission fraud reports
- FBI IC3 (US) — US Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Scamwatch (Australia) — Australian competition & consumer reporting
- Your bank's fraud line — Use the number on the back of your card or in your banking app — never a number the caller gives you
Always verify reporting routes and emergency contacts on the official government or agency website for your country.
Frequently asked questions
Are text-only interviews always scams?
Not always, but a complete hiring process with no voice or video call, instant offers, and upfront fees or data requests is a strong warning sign. Verify the employer through official channels.