In partnership with

Weekly Newsletter Vol. 74 - January 29, 2025

When the job posting asks for 1 year experience but is offering $1M in salary

Generating your Lead Story…

Spotting and Exposing Fake Job Postings and Scams in Recruitment

In today’s digital landscape, job seekers face a growing threat: fake job postings and scams designed to steal money, identities, or valuable information. These fraudulent activities often masquerade as genuine opportunities, targeting those actively looking for a better career path. While the internet has revolutionized recruitment, it has also given rise to sophisticated scams. But armed with the right approach, job seekers can not only protect themselves but also expose the lengths scammers go to deceive.

The Scammers’ Playbook

Fake job postings come in many forms:

• Affiliate Marketing Abuse: Fraudulent job listings drive traffic to sites where scammers profit from sign-ups or purchases.

• Identity Theft: Scammers gather personal information from resumes or application forms, later using it for malicious purposes.

• Clandestine Organizations: Fake companies with spoofed websites pretend to hire, only to disappear after extracting financial or personal data.

• Content Fraud: Scammers clone legitimate LinkedIn profiles or businesses to seem credible and gain trust.

These scams prey on desperation and urgency. But with research and vigilance, they can be unmasked.

How to Uncover the Truth Behind a Scam

To expose fake job postings, scammers, and their intricate operations, here are the steps job seekers can take:

1. Research the Employer

• Check the Website: Scammers often create convincing, but fraudulent, websites. Look for spelling errors, mismatched domain names, or poor design.

• Verify Contact Details: Call or email the official company contact listed on their legitimate website to confirm the job’s authenticity.

2. Inspect Job Postings

• Too Good to Be True? Jobs offering exorbitant pay for minimal experience or effort should be red flags.

• Compare with Official Listings: Check if the job is listed on the company’s verified careers page.

3. Analyze LinkedIn Profiles

• Look for Cloned Profiles: Search LinkedIn for similar names or credentials. Legitimate profiles have multiple recommendations, activity history, and connections.

• Inspect Job Titles: Scammers often invent fake job titles that don’t align with industry norms.

4. Gather Documentation

• Screenshots & Records: Save all correspondence, emails, and screenshots of job postings or suspicious activity.

• Keep Track of Domain Info: Use tools like WHOIS to check the registration details of suspect websites.

5. Expose Affiliate Marketing Abuse

• Identify job postings that redirect you to unrelated websites or require unnecessary sign-ups.

• Report these scams to the website owner, job board, or relevant authorities.

What to Do If You’re a Victim or Witness Fraud

1. Report Identity Theft: Contact your local authorities and credit agencies to protect yourself.

2. Alert LinkedIn or Job Boards: Most platforms have reporting tools for fraudulent activity.

3. Raise Awareness: Share your experience with others to warn potential victims.

Protecting Yourself Moving Forward

Here’s how to stay safe:

• Don’t Overshare: Avoid including sensitive details like your address or full birthdate on your resume.

• Use Professional Channels: Apply only through verified job boards or company websites.

• Educate Yourself: Stay informed about common scams and tactics.

Fake job postings and scams are not just nuisances; they exploit the most vulnerable. By conducting thorough research and documenting their tactics, job seekers can not only protect themselves but also help expose and dismantle these harmful schemes.

Stay vigilant, and as always, Recruitment Made Easy is here to support your job-seeking journey.

Have you encountered a scam or suspicious job posting? Share your story in our community, and let’s work together to keep job seekers safe!

You can’t make this stuff up

_{(*Disclaimer: these are real experiences provided by RME's community of job seekers and hiring managers)}

Have an interview experience or job application story to share?

To get featured, submit your story to our team below (character count limit 1000):

Overtime Reads

_{Looking for more content? We sourced these additional articles for you so that you don't have to work overtime.}

Screened for you

_{*We do not receive any compensation for these promoted products/services, nor for any offers or discounts listed. Rather, we provide a platform for recruiters, hiring managers, and companies to present opportunities to job seekers.}

Have a product/service opportunity you’d like to share on RME’s next newsletter?

Find your next job with: The Wohl Group

As strategic recruiting specialists, The Wohl Group offers a full range of recruiting and consulting services for businesses and hiring managers. We strive on a daily basis to provide each client and candidate we speak with the best resources for the hiring process.

Out-of-Office Offers

Learn AI in 5 minutes a day

This is the easiest way for a busy person wanting to learn AI in as little time as possible:

1. Sign up for The Rundown AI newsletter

2. They send you 5-minute email updates on the latest AI news and how to use it

3. You learn how to become 2x more productive by leveraging AI

Sign up to start learning.