Criminals are experts at impersonating recruiters and HR professionals, offering fake recruitment services or roles in an attempt to steal your money or personal information.
They might contact you by phone call, voicemail, text message, email or on social media. They usually include the offer of high pay or generous bonuses for little effort. They may also post fake job ads online or ask you to pay an upfront fee to complete a trial task. They might also offer fake services like CV writing, job coaching, or “guaranteed” interview prep – often with high fees and no real support.
Whether you’re starting a new chapter, looking to boost your income or searching for stability, it’s important to keep your guard up against scams.
What to look out for
You receive a message, phone call or voice message from someone claiming to be a recruiter, but they don’t specify a company or role.
The role offers high reward for very little effort.
They say they’ve reviewed your CV or profile, but you never shared it with them.
You’re asked to complete a “trial task” that involves an upfront fee.
They pressure you to act fast and share your information or pay a fee to “secure your position”.
You’re offered paid coaching or CV services with vague promises and no credentials – or pressured to sign up immediately.
Protect yourself from job scams
Take a moment to stop and think before sharing any personal information. Ask yourself, could it be fake?
Always do your research on the recruiter, company or service before you engage.
Stick to trusted recruitment websites and platforms.
Check email domains – legitimate recruiters and companies will use a corporate email.
Remember: You should never have to pay to apply for a job or speak to a recruiter. Any requests for money, whether it’s labelled as admin fees, verification steps, or application costs is a huge red flag.
Take Five to Stop Fraud
Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations and the police. They spend hours researching you for their scams, hoping you’ll let your guard down for just a moment. Stop and think. It could protect you and your money.
STOP
Take a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information. It could keep you safe.
CHALLENGE
Ask yourself, could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
PROTECT
Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve been scammed and tell the Police at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040.