How To Protect Yourself From Online Employment Scams

For many, 2025 represents a new chapter and a new career path. The past year brought about many changes within various industries around the world, with AI shaking up job security and new careers in 2025 such as technology, healthcare, communications, and marketing becoming increasingly attractive to job seekers. If you are one of the many who are seeking a new opportunity, there are several online employment scams that you need to be aware of.

As with any online scam, it’s all about awareness and knowing what signs to look out for. If you’re a job seeker, here’s what you need to know to stay protected.

What Exactly Are Online Employment Scams?

These types of scams generally involve scammers posing as legitimate employers or recruiters to exploit job seekers through a variety of means.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in such scams. In the first six months of 2024 alone, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), there was a staggering increase in online job scams compared to the year prior. Scams during the period amounted to an astonishing $286 million, with “task scams” being the primary culprit. In these scams, fraudsters generally send unsolicited messages offering easy online work.

There are many other scams that fall into the online employment scam bucket, including fake job postings, phishing schemes, and fraudulent work-from-home opportunities.

Common Types of Online Employment Scams

The first step in ensuring you don’t fall prey to scams related to employment, is to know which scams are most prevalent.

1. Task-Based Scams

Task-based scams, as we referenced earlier, are built around seemingly simple online tasks that most often involve disclosing personal information, clicking on malicious links, or making small payments.

The promise is to make quick earnings or be guaranteed to move to the “next step” in the employment process. Such scams ultimately lead to identity theft or financial loss. There has been a sharp increase in such scams being reported to consumer protection agencies in recent months, so be aware of these tactics during your job search.

Never share your personal information unless you have researched the organization that you are engaging with. Take a close look at any online reviews that you can find as these will very quickly confirm whether or not it’s legitimate.

2. Reshipping Scams

If you’re looking for a side hustle or for a simple means of generating income while you land the job you are seeking, you may be attracted to one of the many reshipping opportunities advertised online. Tread with caution though, as it may be a reshipping scam.

In reshipping scams, individuals are recruited to distribute goods from various countries. It works by using job seekers who are sent specific packages that they are meant to repack and send on to another address. In these scams, the goods being sent are purchased with a stolen credit card, which means that those involved are accomplices to illegal activities, without even knowing it.

It’s important that you always verify the company’s legitimacy before accepting the opportunity to form part of such a logistics network.

3. Fake Job Placement Services

Another common online scam is fake job placement services. In this scam, an individual is guaranteed employment in exchange for fees that are paid upfront. The scam involves posting jobs that don’t exist and then charging the candidate for various fees, including resume reviews and background checks.

Once the fees are paid, the fake recruiter disappears and the job seeker is left out of pocket. To avoid this type of scam, avoid agencies or individuals who ask for any “admin” or service fees. Legitimate placement companies typically don’t charge for this service as they are compensated by the hiring company.

4. Unsolicited Job Offers

It’s become increasingly common for scammers to send unsolicited job offers via email or to reach you on the phone claiming to have found your resume online. They offer an attractive employment opportunity and, of course, a high salary.

They ask you to provide your personal information or to pay for training materials. If you are contacted in this way, be wary and make sure that you do your due diligence. To avoid these scams, ask for information on the company and then do a background check on their credibility.

Be sure to report the email address and domain if you are suspicious.

5. Mystery Shopper Scams

While there are many legitimate mystery shopping jobs, a common tactic for online scammers is to offer fake positions that offer revenue to gather information on brands and companies. A key component of this scam is that they require upfront payment for training and certification.

Victims may also receive fake checks that cover expenses like shopping, which they then wire back a portion of. These checks eventually bounce, which leaves the victim out of pocket.

If you are interested in taking part in mystery shopper campaigns in return for revenue, make sure that you research the company to identify any possible red flags.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What can I do to check if a job offer is legitimate?

A: Start by researching the company you are interested in thoroughly. See that they have an official website and look at it carefully to verify information like email addresses and phone numbers. Also, check that the scammer isn’t using an official company by masking their email address. Check the details of the email that you have received. If the address doesn’t match the website, it’s a major red flag.

Q2: Is it normal for companies and recruitment agencies to ask for money upfront?

A: Most definitely not. Legitimate employers will very seldom ask for any form of upfront payment. Costs like training, equipment, and background checks are costs that the hiring company would cover. If they ask for such funds, politely decline and move on.

Q3: What should I do if I suspect a job offer is a scam?

A: The first thing to do is stop all communication and don’t click on any links you have received from the suspected company. It’s especially important that you don’t provide any personal information. Report the company, email address, or domain to the relevant authority. Even if you didn’t fall prey to their scam, someone else may.

Q4: Are work-from-home opportunities usually scams?

A: No, there are many work-from-home opportunities that are completely legitimate, especially in 2025. It’s important that you do the due diligence pertaining to any opportunity that offers remote work, as these are common online employment scams.

Q5: How can I protect my personal information while I am searching for a new job?

A: Before you share any personal information, do a thorough background check on the company that you are engaging with. Make sure that you don’t share sensitive information like your full address or social security number on public job boards and platforms. Always check your social media privacy settings to make sure that your details are publicly accessible.

Stay Informed of Online Scams

Staying informed is your best defense against not only online employment scams but all online fraudulent activity. For more tips and in-depth articles on recognizing and avoiding online scams, visit the Anti Fraud News blog.

Empower yourself with knowledge to navigate the job market safely and confidently.