Job Search Vigilance

We provide job seekers with remote job listings and aim to deliver the best job search experience for every job seeker, every time. As third-party scams become increasingly common, we’re actively working to prevent job fraud and protect our users from scammers. We believe fraud awareness is essential to a safe and successful job search and that preventing fraud is a shared responsibility. We encourage job seekers to be on the lookout for job scams and use sound judgment when applying for jobs to avoid getting scammed.

Common Job Scams to Watch For

There are several red flags to be aware of when it comes to employment scams, including fake job postings, phishing emails, requests for money upfront, above-average salaries for little work, too-good-to-be-true benefits, urgent or time-sensitive job offers that coerce job seekers to act immediately, no-interview job offers, and scams involving job placement services.

Below, we’ve provided additional details on each of these job scams, including what to keep an eye out for if you encounter any of these risky situations:

Fake Jobs

You may encounter fake job postings in your search for employment. Signs of a fraudulent job posting often include:

• Unclear job descriptions lacking specific details about the company and the role, including job duties.
• Requests to schedule interviews via text-only apps, such as Google Hangouts, Telegram, or WhatsApp.
• Job offers are extended via unofficial channels, such as social media messages or emails from personal accounts, such as Gmail.

If you suspect a fake job posting, reverse your search by visiting the company’s official career website, tracking down the job ad, and comparing it to the job listing you encountered. If you can’t find the job posted on the company’s website, it may not be legitimate. If you feel you’ve encountered a fake job, you can report the job on the website where you encountered it, as well as to other official organizations, which we’ve included below.

Phishing Emails

You may encounter scammers who are imitating company representatives or recruiters. In these situations, do your due diligence to verify that the person is who they say they are.

• Be wary of suspicious email addresses with incorrect spellings or slight variations from official company domains. For instance, an email address that looks almost identical to a company’s email address except for one small variation, such as an additional period, a number added to the end, or one changed letter.
• You receive an email invitation for an online interview from a personal account, such as Gmail, rather than an official company account.

To avoid email phishing scams, always verify a company’s email address or domain by visiting its official website. Research LinkedIn and official company pages to verify a person’s identity and role with the company before responding to the email. If you cannot verify the email address or the person who contacted you, err on the side of caution.

Requests for Money

At no point during the job application process, including interviews, should a legitimate employer request money from you. Any recruiter or company seeking upfront fees is a red flag. Other red flags include:

• Fees are requested via platforms like PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle for equipment or training.
• Personal or financial information is requested early in the application process and before a job offer is made.

Any fees associated with the job, such as enrolling in certification programs or purchasing home office equipment, should only come after an offer of employment has been made. If you’re being asked to send money upfront, trust your gut and cut off contact with the scammer.

Unrealistically High Salaries or Benefits

While there are many high-paying remote and flexible jobs available, be cautious of any job posting that offers a salary or benefits that seem too good to be true. Look out for:

• Compensation packages that are far higher than the market average.
• Little work is required for the role, and the work doesn’t align with the high salary offered.
• The salary offered far exceeds your experience level.

If you encounter a job posting advertising very high pay for very little work, be on alert. Research average salaries and duties for the role and establish your salary range expectations before you accept an interview.

Urgent and Time-Sensitive Job Offers

No legitimate hiring manager or employer should pressure you to act immediately when it comes to accepting a job offer. Be vigilant about:

• Time-sensitive job offers that require you to make a decision right away or on the spot.
• Urgent hiring notices with narrow hiring windows that force you to decide quickly without giving you time to consider the opportunity.

Legitimate employers will give you time and space to consider the job offer before making a decision. You may not have weeks to make a decision, but you shouldn’t have to make a decision on the spot, either.

No-Interview Job Offers

It’s uncommon to get an immediate job offer, no matter how qualified you are. Think twice before accepting any job offer that is made without first requiring an interview.

Interviews are key to the hiring process, allowing both employers and job seekers to assess the fit for the role. If you’re offered a job on the spot and haven’t gone through an interview or discussed the role at any length with the employer, it may be a scam. If you’re the only applicant for the job, that’s also a red flag.

Job Placement Scams

Job boards are an excellent source of job listings, but they’re not the same as job placement services, such as headhunters and staffing agencies. Be cautious of any agency with:

• Outdated or fake job postings.
• Fees associated with placement services, particularly before employment is secured.

Only use reputable, curated job boards with solid reviews and legitimate job postings.

Identifying and Steering Clear of Job Scams

Before proceeding with any interview or accepting any job offer, investigate the company to gauge its level of professionalism and verify its legitimacy.

Note Any Lack of Professionalism

If any company requests or communications strike you as unprofessional, be careful in how you proceed. Be wary of:

• Poor grammar, such as confusing syntax, misspelled words, or incorrect verb conjugations.
• Robotic language that may be AI-generated.
• Being asked for money to land a job, being asked to perform financial transactions on behalf of a company, or being charged fees to reserve an interview, undergo training, or perform a background check.
• Getting a job offer for a position you did not apply for.

While job searching, you’re doing your best to make a good impression on prospective employers, and companies should do the same. If your initial communication with a company lacks professionalism, that’s a red flag, and you’re better off looking elsewhere.

Investigate the Company or Employer

Investigating employers is key to a successful job search. Whether or not you have scam concerns, it’s wise to take the following precautions when considering any potential employer:

• Confirm that the company has an account with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
• Search for the company online using the company name in addition to words like “complaint,” “fraud,” or “scam.” Use plus signs in between your search terms, such as “Company Name + scam” or “Company Name + fraud.”
• Contact the company to confirm the job using verifiable contact information, such as a phone number, found directly on its website.
• Assess the recruiter’s LinkedIn profile, including verifying their connections, reviewing their level of engagement, and questioning any information that may be missing or incomplete.

Taking these steps to analyze job postings and employers will help keep you safe from scams.

Here’s How We Communicate With You

All communications from RemoteJobs.io will only arrive via our official email domain. You will never receive any communications via third-party platforms, such as Facebook Messenger, Telegram, WhatsApp, and similar channels.

If you encounter a potential scam in any of the following scenarios, here’s what to do:

• If you receive a message that appears to be from RemoteJobs.io from a third-party channel or appears suspicious in any way, do not engage in the conversation but instead report the suspicious message to us directly, at [email protected].

You can also select your personal communication preferences on RemoteJobs.io and decide for yourself whether or not you want to receive communications.

Whenever we are notified of suspicious communications, we aim to verify the source and improve the detection of scams. As such, we encourage job seekers to report anything of concern so we can investigate the claim and keep our job seekers safe.

At RemoteJobs.io, we will never ask you to pay anything for a position, and we never charge fees for documentation, administrative functions, or work visas.

Report Suspicious Activity & Job Scams

If you encounter any suspicious activity, please report it to us at [email protected], as well as one or more of the following resources:

Consumer Protection Agency Resources

• AARP Fraud Watch Network
• Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Fraud Reporter
• Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

If you receive a suspicious phone call and want to report unwanted calls, you can register your phone number for free in the FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry.