TL;DR: Indeed lists ten job-scam red flags, SEEK says fake ads ask for fees, ID copies or a tax file number, and the FTC says honest employers never ask you to pay to get a job.
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Fake job ads appear on every board. Indeed and SEEK publish their own warnings, and the FTC gives the general rules that apply on ZipRecruiter or anywhere else.
Indeed
Indeed lists ten red flags, including unsolicited recruiter contact, an immediate offer, unusually high pay, a payment required from you, and early requests for a Social Security number or bank details.
SEEK
SEEK says fraudulent ads ask for upfront fees, bank or card details, copies of ID, a tax file number or your SEEK login. To report, call 1300 658 700 in Australia or 0508 733 569 in New Zealand, and report to the ACCC.
ZipRecruiter and general FTC rules
ZipRecruiter has a help article for notifying it about a suspicious ad. The FTC's advice applies to any board:
- "Honest employers, including the federal government, will never ask you to pay to get a job."
- Beware check-deposit schemes, where you deposit a check and send part back.
- Beware promises of thousands a month for little effort.
- Beware jobs that involve receiving, repackaging and reshipping parcels.
- Beware phone numbers and websites that vanish after you are "hired".
What the FTC says about job offers by text
The FTC warns of unsolicited texts from fake recruiters posing as hiring managers for remote roles such as "online assessor". A red flag is being asked to reply "YES" or "INTERESTED" instead of clicking a link, and pay rates quoted without details of the actual job. It describes two schemes: the fake check scam, where you deposit a check and wire money back, and the task scam, where fake online tasks such as posting positive reviews eventually require you to deposit your own funds. Its advice is to ignore unexpected job messages on text, WhatsApp or Telegram, never pay to get work, and distrust offers to pay you for positive reviews.
Work-from-home offers
The FTC notes that victims often pay for worthless starter kits, training courses or certifications. Before accepting, search the company or recruiter with words like "scam", "review" or "complaint", talk to someone you trust, and never accept an employer's check to redistribute money.
The scale
The FTC's 2024 data book records $751 million in reported job and business-opportunity scam losses, with a median loss of $2,250.
If you gave money or details
Contact your payment provider straight away, report the fraud and ask to reverse the transaction. The FTC notes this covers cards, apps, wires, gift cards and crypto. Report to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general. See how to report a fake job offer and registration fee recovery.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will a real employer ask me to pay?
No. The FTC says honest employers will never ask you to pay to get a job.
What red flags does Indeed list?
Unsolicited contact, an immediate offer, unusually high pay, payment demands, and early requests for a Social Security number or bank details.
What do fake SEEK ads ask for?
Upfront fees, bank or card details, ID copies, a tax file number or your SEEK login.
How do I report a SEEK scam?
Call 1300 658 700 in Australia or 0508 733 569 in New Zealand, and report to the ACCC.
What is a check deposit scheme?
An employer sends a check, asks you to deposit it and send part of the money back.
What is a task scam?
The FTC describes fake online tasks, such as posting positive reviews, that supposedly pay money but eventually require you to deposit your own funds.
How much is lost to job scams?
The FTC's 2024 Consumer Sentinel data book records $751 million in job and business-opportunity scam losses, with a median loss of $2,250.
Sources
- Indeed – How to know if a job is a scam
- SEEK – Safe job searching
- FTC – Job scams
- FTC – Job offer text is probably a scam
- FTC – How to avoid work-from-home job scams
- FTC – Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024