Job scams are getting smarter — here's how to spot them
Fake recruiters, cloned company sites, 'equipment cheques' — job scams now look alarmingly real. The tells that give them away.
By Daniel Brooks · 2026-06-25
Job scams used to be easy to spot. Now they borrow real company names, real job boards and real-sounding recruiters — and they target people at their most hopeful.
The tells
- Money moving toward you too fast — cheques for 'equipment' before day one are always a scam.
- Interviews only by chat — legitimate employers get you on camera.
- Personal email domains — a 'recruiter' on gmail for a Fortune 500 role isn't one.
- Pressure and secrecy — real offers survive a day of thinking it over.
One ruleNever pay to be hired, and never share bank or ID documents before a signed offer from a verified company domain. No exceptions.