Job scams, in which cyber criminals falsely purport to be recruiters from legitimate companies, are an emerging threat to businesses and job seekers alike. In fact, the FTC has classified job scams as one of the fastest-growing types of scams. In the first half of 2024 alone, scammers using this method of fraud stole $220 million from American consumers.
Industry titans like eBay and Amazon have been impersonated in job scams, with cyber criminals creating false job listings for those companies. Bad actors often impersonate trusted brands because potential clients are more likely to believe the scam is real.
Typically, these cyber criminals mimic the hiring process, with the end goal of tricking people into paying money upfront. This often looks like instructing victims to send funds for the purchase of computer equipment after they believe they have received a job offer.
When a brand is impersonated in a job scam, it can damage a business’s reputation and trust. Duped consumers may hold the brand that was impersonated responsible for their lost money and time, despite the fact that the business is also a victim of the fraud.
How Brands Are Impersonated in Job Scams
When engaging in job scams, cybercriminals invest in creating a persuasive experience that mirrors a legitimate hiring process. Let’s start at the beginning of a scam, explaining step-by-step how unsuspecting targets are convinced to hand over their financial information.
Brian saw a job posting on LinkedIn that seemed like an ideal fit for him: a software engineer at Apple. Thrilled by the idea of working for such a well-respected company, Brian sent his resume to the email listed in the ad.
Not long after submitting the job application, Brian was delighted to receive a WhatsApp message from someone identifying themselves as an Apple recruiter. The recruiter had a profile picture featuring Apple’s logo, leading Brian to believe he was really interacting with a company representative.
Brian had a Zoom interview for the position, which seemed to go well, and he was excited to receive an email formally offering him a job at Apple. The email included official Apple trademarks and brand content, appearing to be legitimate communication from the industry giant.
There was just one problem: because Brian was to start working remotely, he had to send Apple $3,000 upfront for the purchase of his computer, mouse, and other equipment. The recruiter promised that Brian would be reimbursed, with the funds added to his first paycheck. Eager to begin working, Brian gave the recruiter his credit card details….and communication suddenly stopped.
Sadly, Brian’s story is typical of those who fall victim to job scams. Cybercriminals use the names of companies with high business profiles in order to lure job seekers into fake interviews or job offers.
These scams can happen over text messages and WhatsApp, as well as recruitment channels like job boards or LinkedIn.
Oftentimes, the scammers stage an interview process and then ask for money upon a job offer. This is usually disguised as arranging equipment purchases for a remote working setup.
Beacon Hill, a large US staffing firm, recently had its name used in online job scams. Scammers claimed to be representatives from Beacon Hill on Upwork, a well-known freelancing platform.
The scam became so prevalent that Beacon Hill publicly released information to educate candidates about how to spot fraudulent job listings. They also provided various examples of how their brand was impersonated online including with fake Facebook pages and LinkedIn accounts.
How to Spot a Fake Job Posting
Job seekers can avoid scams by learning to recognize red flags in job listings. Some of the most common warning signs include:
- Unrealistic pay that is far above market rate
- Vague or overly generic job descriptions
- Recruiter emails from free email domains (e.g. Gmail, Yahoo)
- Requests for payments or bank information upfront
Legitimate employers do not ask for money during the hiring process. A real job offer will come with documentation and verification from a verifiable company domain.
Example: A legitimate company will usually post jobs only on their official careers site or trusted platforms, and use professional email signatures that include their domain name. In contrast, scammers might send messages from an address like “hiringteam123@gmail.com” with few details about the job or team.
Checklist for Job Seekers Before Applying
Before submitting your application to a new employer, use this checklist to protect yourself:
- Visit the company’s official careers page to confirm the job is listed there
- Verify the email domain and recruiter’s LinkedIn profile before responding
- Be cautious if a recruiter asks you to purchase equipment or training materials
- Check that salary expectations are in line with industry averages
- If something feels off, contact the company directly via their website to confirm
Verification Steps for Candidates
Candidates can protect themselves by taking a few proactive verification steps:
- Reach out to the HR department via the official company website or LinkedIn page
- Search for the job posting on the company’s official site to confirm it exists
- Use online brand protection tools, like BrandShield, to investigate suspicious listings or impersonated branding
Employer Role in Protecting Candidates and Brand
Businesses can reduce their risk of being impersonated by following prevention best practices. In addition to the 7 tips covered below, companies should also:
- Publish “safe recruiting guidelines” on their careers page
- Share resources with applicants about what a legitimate hiring process looks like
- Partner with brand protection providers like BrandShield to monitor for impersonated job listings and alert platforms quickly
Best Practices for Employers to Avoid Job Scams
1. Monitor Job Listings
Regularly review job boards and platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed for fraudulent postings using your company name. Set up alerts or use monitoring tools to ensure continuous oversight.
2. Direct Job Seekers to Your Official Website
Always direct candidates to apply through your official careers page or verified channels. Be clear about where you do and do not post jobs to help applicants avoid fraud.
3. Educate HR About Employment Scams
Train your HR and recruiting teams to identify signs of impersonation. Encourage them to report suspicious postings and communicate with legal and brand protection partners.
4. Establish a Contact to Verify Candidate-Company Communications
Designate a trusted HR contact that candidates can reach out to with verification questions. Make this information publicly accessible on your careers or contact pages.
5. Constantly Monitor the Web for Brand Impersonation Sites
Scammers may create fake websites that mimic your official pages. Regular scans of the web, including domains and social media, help detect and take down impersonators early.
6. Swiftly Take Down Fake Websites
When fake sites are discovered, take fast action to remove them by working with hosting providers or engaging a takedown service like BrandShield.
7. Release Public Warnings About Job Scams
Use your website, social media, and job boards to issue public statements when scams occur. This educates the public and makes it harder for scammers to succeed.
Case Studies & Real-World Examples
In one notable case, BrandShield worked with a Fortune 500 technology company that was being impersonated across freelance job platforms. The brand received dozens of complaints from individuals who believed they had been hired after going through fake interviews.
BrandShield identified over 40 impersonated listings and 12 fraudulent domains within days. By partnering with marketplaces and hosting services, all of the listings were taken down within 72 hours. The company then published a public advisory and embedded a “Safe Hiring Practices” section into their website to deter future incidents.
By contrast, a legitimate hiring process included an official job post on the company’s careers page, verifiable recruiter profiles, and secure digital contracts issued only after thorough screening.
FAQ
What are the most common job scam tactics?
Scammers often impersonate large companies, use fake job boards, and request upfront payments for equipment or training. They may also conduct fake interviews via Zoom or WhatsApp.
Does BrandShield monitor job sites for fake postings?
Yes. BrandShield scans job boards, freelancing platforms, and social media for unauthorized listings and impersonations of your brand.
What should a candidate do if they’ve been contacted by a fake recruiter?
They should cease communication immediately, report the scam to the company being impersonated, and file a complaint with the platform and local authorities.
How often should employers audit their job-board presence?
Ideally, brands should audit key platforms weekly or use automated monitoring tools to identify issues in real time.
Are remote job offers more likely to be fake?
Yes. Remote jobs often attract more scams because they allow fraudsters to avoid questions about physical offices or in-person interviews.
Protect Your Brand From Job Scams with BrandShield
One of the best ways to protect your brand from being used in job scams is by partnering with an online brand protection solution.
BrandShield is an expert brand protection provider with years of experience in safeguarding brand reputations and intellectual property. As part of our comprehensive monitoring services, we constantly scan websites, freelance platforms, and social media for recruitment scams using your brand identity.
We ensure rapid responses in the event of job scams impersonating your brand, helping mitigate potential damage by ensuring these postings are shut down swiftly.
Brand protection isn’t just about security—it’s about preserving your brand reputation. Invest in a brand protection solution to regularly monitor hiring platforms and stay ahead of emerging online threats, including job scams.
