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Scammers Are Hiring: Don’t Apply: How to Outsmart Fake Recruiters Part 1

Job seekers today are navigating a job market filled with opportunity, but also unprecedented levels of fraud, impersonation, and digital deception. While scams have always existed, 2025 has brought more sophisticated tactics, higher financial losses, and an alarming rise in fake recruiters both on and off LinkedIn.

This article is co-authored with Stuart Weiner, who will present this topic at the Great Careers Network in 2026.

With unemployment fluctuating and millions of people searching online, scammers are now aggressively targeting job seekers. This evolving landscape means it’s more important than ever to understand how scammers operate. 

They steal identities, drain bank accounts, impersonate legitimate recruiters, and even create entire fake companies that appear authentic. If you’re actively searching for a job, this is the moment to level up your scam-spotting skills.

To equip you against these evolving threats, this article breaks down how scammers obtain your information and what today’s fake recruiter schemes look like.

Next week, Part 2 will provide an overview of an additional 19 types of online scams everyone should be aware of, so you can stay scam-savvy.

How Scammers Get Your Email and Why You’re Being Targeted

There are five core ways scammers can routinely acquire your contact information:

1. Data Breaches

When companies experience a breach, stolen databases containing your email, username, and sometimes passwords are sold in bulk on the Dark Web. Scammers then use these lists to send targeted phishing messages that appear “too accurate” to ignore.

2. Email Harvesting Bots

Bots crawl websites, PDFs, blogs, and directories looking for the “@” symbol. If you’ve ever posted your email online, even once, it may already be circulating in scammer databases.

3. Social Media Exposure

Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram make it easy for scammers to scrape email formats or pull contact info directly from your posts, bio, or uploaded resumes. Even being tagged in documents can expose your information.

4. Fake Websites & Credential Harvesting Pages

Scammers build realistic-looking login pages for well-known brands. Once you “sign in,” they capture your email and password instantly. Don’t use the same password for your Venmo, PayPal, and bank accounts that you do for your social logins or emails. Password keepers exist so you don’t have to remember hundreds of passwords.

5. Social Engineering Attacks

A scammer may impersonate IT support, a vendor, or even a colleague. They ask you to “confirm your email” or “verify your login credentials.” The goal is to make you trust them just long enough to click or share something dangerous.

The Rise of Fake Recruiters, Especially on LinkedIn

Fake recruiter scams now fall into several categories:

1. Imposter Recruiters Sending Private Messages on LinkedIn

These messages often include:

  • Flattery (“Your background is impressive…”)
  • Vague descriptions (“My boss is launching a new project…”)
  • Zero details about the role
  • Pressure to move the conversation off LinkedIn

If they refuse a video call, treat it as an urgent red flag and disengage immediately.

2. Fake Job Offers via Direct Email or Text

Messages may reference:

  • “You were recommended by multiple agencies.”
  • Unrealistic pay ($500/day for easy tasks)
  • No interview required
  • Instant onboarding
  • Payment by crypto

Legitimate companies do not recruit via Telegram, WhatsApp, or SMS, especially without a formal application process or screening.

3. Counterfeit Job Postings

Scammers build clone sites of Indeed, LinkedIn, and ZipRecruiter. The job “apply” button leads to a fake page to collect personal information.

4. Equipment Purchase Scams

These appear to be genuine job offers, but they require you to purchase equipment up front.

 

Example red flags:

  • “We’ll reimburse you after your first paycheck.”
  • “Our approved vendor will invoice you.”
  • “To start Monday, you must pay today.”

Never trust any employer who demands personal payments before your first day.

Warning Signs of a Fake Recruiter

 

  • They refuse to meet on video.
  • The job is overly vague or unrealistically lucrative.
  • Their LinkedIn account is new, incomplete, or has a limited number of connections.
  • They push you to leave LinkedIn for another platform.

Additional Job Seeker Scams

1. Deepfake Recruiter Voice & Video Calls

Scammers now use AI-generated voices or video avatars to mimic real recruiters. These deepfake tools make it difficult to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent communications. While we can caution you to be vigilant, we don’t have the expertise to address how to combat deepfakes. If a reader does, let’s co-author another article and share your knowledge.

Add this point:

  • Deepfakes can mimic HR leaders by copying their appearances and mannerisms from publicly available LinkedIn videos, making it harder to identify scams.
  • Some scammers conduct Zoom calls using a static profile picture and an AI-generated voice, a tactic known as a deepfake.
  • A sign is that they avoid turning on their own camera or claim “tech issues.”

2. Fake Skills Tests & Assessment Scam Platforms

Scammers invite candidates to “complete a skills assessment” on a fake testing platform.

 

Once the candidate creates an account, the scammers harvest:

  • logins
  • identity details
  • keystroke biometrics
  • sometimes credit card information

They may also charge for “premium test access.”

3. Fake Background Check Vendors

Candidates are told they must:

  • pay for a background check
  • upload driver’s license or passport
  • submit Social Security Number (SSN) or Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  • pay a “processing fee”

Legitimate employers never require job seekers to pay for their own background checks.

4. Referral Network Scams (“Pay to be referred”)

Scammers impersonate employees at big companies and offer:

  • “You pay $100, and I’ll internally refer you.”
  •  They often spoof internal email formats to appear real.

Don’t let that dissuade YOU from reaching out to inquire about referrals. Be cautious of incoming offers to refer.

5. Calendar Invite Phishing

This is a newer trick:
Scammers send Google or Outlook calendar invites with malicious meeting links.
Because invitations bypass spam filters, victims often assume they’re legitimate.

I am getting these on my .mac account for bitcoin and crypto transfers, and I know they are fake because I do neither of these things.

6. LinkedIn “Profile View” or “Candidate Verification” Scams

Scammers impersonate LinkedIn staff and send messages that say:

  • “Verify your profile to avoid suspension.”
  • “Your job-seeking status is expiring – click here.”
     These phishing pages are styled exactly like LinkedIn.

You can report fake LinkedIn profiles to LinkedIn or ask LinkedIn for help.

7. Fake “Document Upload Portals” After an Interview

Scammers build fake onboarding portals that ask job seekers to upload:

  • copy of passport
  • I-9 documents
  • bank information
  • voided checks
  • W-4
  • direct deposit forms

They appear after a fake “interview round,” making it feel real.

8. Fake Employer Review Websites

New tactic: scammers build “review sites” for fake companies to look legitimate. Victims see positive reviews… all generated by AI.

9. Multi-Step “Job Funnel” Scams

These mimic legit hiring processes:

  • Step 1: Application
  • Step 2: “HR interview”
  • Step 3: Assessment
  • Step 4: “Offer”
  • Step 5: Equipment purchase or direct deposit form

This multi-step funnel lowers skepticism.

10. Co-Worker Impersonation Once You’re “Hired”

After “hiring,” scammers create fake internal Slack/Teams groups. They introduce “coworkers” (all scammers).

Gradually, they ask for:

  • tax info
  • purchasing gift cards
  • crypto transfers
  • “client onboarding funds”

11. Fake Remote Internships for Students & Career Changers

Internship scams target:

  • immigrants
  • new grads
  • return-to-work professionals

Red flags:

  • unpaid “training fees”
  • vague company mission
  • only messaging apps for communication
  • generic onboarding PDFs

12. Fake Recruiter “AI Matching Tools”

Scammers claim they use “AI hiring tools” requiring candidates to upload:

  • resume
  • personal data
  • Social Security Number (SSN) or Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  • employment eligibility forms to a fake AI-based matching portal.

13. Fake Companies Using Real Company Names + Altered Domains

The email domain does not match the company, or it may match, but it may also contain a Cyrillic, Greek, Armenian, Chinese, Hebrew, or other language character, substituting a known letter in the hope that you won’t notice. 

Example:

Instead of @accenture.com, scammer uses:

  • @accenture-careers.com
  • @accenture-jobs.org
  • @jobs-accenture.com

Easy to miss unless job seekers hover or research email domains.

14. “Work-from-Anywhere Tax Form Scams”

Scammers claim they need tax forms specific to remote roles. They request:

  • I-9
  • W-9
  • W-4
  • banking info

No interview = no tax paperwork. Ever.

15. “Career Coach Impersonation” Scams

Scammers impersonate legitimate career coaches (sometimes they might even be bold enough to use my name, Lynne or Lynne Williams!).

They message job seekers saying:

  • “I reviewed your profile…”
  • “I can guarantee interviews…”
  • “Pay for a session to unlock job referrals.”

They use stolen photos and bios.

The #1 Most Increasingly Reported Scam 

Offer Letter + Onboarding Portal Scam (Highly Sophisticated)

Victims receive:

  • official-looking offer letter
  • job description
  • employee handbook
  • onboarding checklist
  • “HR software login” (fake portal)
  • requests to complete direct deposit setup

This scam can result in significant financial losses because it appears to be a legitimate employment opportunity.

Rule of thumb: If the job sounds too good to be true, pause and verify before you act. Protect yourself: research the company, consult trusted contacts, and report suspicious offers. Stay vigilant and alert others if you encounter scams.

One Measure LinkedIn is Taking to Combat the Problem

LinkedIn just stopped allowing searches for posts using #opentowork. You can learn more about this in Kevin D. Turner’s post.

NEXT STEPS

Co-Author Stuart Weiner BIO

Stuart Weiner has had an extensive career in healthcare compliance. He served as a compliance officer at two prestigious medical centers and at several large physician-run practices in New York City. He continues to offer his expertise to healthcare organizations on a consulting basis. In 2019, Stuart joined the Professional Service Group of Central New Jersey, where he works as an active member of the Marketing and Training Committees.

Co-Author Lynne Williams BIO

Lynne M. Williams is the Executive Director of the Great Careers Network, a volunteer-run 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides career development and networking connections for 1) job seekers in career transition, including veterans, and 2) employed and self-employed for career management.

Aside from writing keyword-focused content for ATS resumes and LinkedIn profiles, Lynne is writing her doctoral dissertation on LinkedIn for Job Seekers. She is a contributing author on “Applying to Positions” in  Find Your Fit: A Practical Guide to Landing the Job You Love, along with the late Dick Bolles, the author of What Color is Your Parachute?, and is also a speaker on career topics.