Fake job advertisements are increasingly resembling real ones; they are well written, include the logo of a well-known company, and are even published on popular portals. Scammers count on the candidate not remaining vigilant, especially if the offer sounds exceptionally attractive. The goal of such scams is most often to extort money, personal data, or use the victim for criminal activities, e.g., opening bank accounts, transferring funds, or even signing fake contracts. In some cases, malicious links contained in messages may also lead to taking control of your device.

Below you will find a list of warning signs that will help you distinguish an honest offer from an attempted scam. Stay alert — this is the first step to safety.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A FAKE JOB OFFER?

Too attractive to be true

Job offers that promise high earnings with minimal effort, e.g., “PLN 2,000 per week for 3 hours of remote work per day,” should raise suspicion. They are often accompanied by phrases such as “guaranteed income” or “legal work immediately,” intended to lull the candidate’s vigilance.

Lack of verifiable company data

Every entity conducting business activity should appear in official registers such as CEIDG, KRS, or KRAZ (in the case of employment agencies). It is easy to check: just type the company name from the ad into the browser search bar and add the register abbreviations. If the company is in the register, the search results will show a page with company data on the register’s official website, or you can find the register website and enter the company name you want to verify directly in its search bar. The lack of any information about the company or inconsistencies in the data are warning signs.

Using well-known logos

Fake recruiters often impersonate reputable brands, illegally using their logos to increase credibility. In case of doubt, it is always worth contacting the company directly and asking whether the person is its representative.

Contact via SMS or private email

An increasingly common form of fraud is sending fake offers via SMS, messengers, or emails from unprofessional, free domains (e.g., @gmail.com). It is worth paying attention to typos in domains (e.g., @gmai1.com), random characters in the address, and unclear message content.

Time pressure

Scammers often force action under time pressure to block rational thinking and compel a quick decision. If someone pressures you to decide quickly — be careful. It may be an attempt at manipulation.

Fake social media accounts

Potential employers or recruiters are increasingly contacting candidates through social media such as Facebook or LinkedIn. You should verify whether the profile is genuine.

TYPICAL FORMS OF FRAUD AND THREATS

Requirement to pay or purchase

A legitimate company does not require fees for participating in recruitment, purchasing training, telecommunications services, or opening accounts as part of the application process. Such demands are a typical warning sign.

Personal data theft

The scam may involve asking the candidate, already at an early stage of recruitment, to send full personal data, bank account numbers, or even scans of documents. These data may be used for identity theft, e.g., taking out loans.

Opening bank accounts

Dishonest “agencies” may instruct a candidate to open a bank account for the alleged purpose of paying remuneration. In reality, they use these accounts as tools to extort referral bonuses or for financial crimes.

Malware

Clicking links or attachments in suspicious messages may result in device infection. Cybercriminals may then take over access to bank accounts or social media accounts.

Fake contracts and contractual penalties

There are scams in which a candidate unknowingly enters into a civil-law contract, e.g., for an impossible task (e.g., writing 800 articles in 3 days). Failure to perform results in financial penalties, which victims often do not challenge in court.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMS?

Always check the company

Use CEIDG, KRS, or KRAZ. See how long the company has operated, whether there are opinions about it, whether contact details are complete, and whether the registered office address on the website matches official registers.

Never pay for the recruitment process

Any fees for “verification,” “training,” “application,” or “obtaining a work permit” are illegal and should end the contact.

Do not provide data at the start

A CV should contain only basic contact information. Do not send ID scans or bank account numbers without thorough verification.

Use separate contact details

Consider creating a separate email address and phone number for recruitment purposes only.

Stay vigilant in communication

Check whether the recruiter uses a business email address, whether their profile looks professional, and whether they do not send suspicious links.

Verify social media accounts

Pay attention to whether the employer or recruiter has their current workplace “linked” to the profile and whether the user information section is not empty. Also check the profile picture — you can upload it to an image search engine (e.g., Google, search by image option) to make sure it has not been stolen. Additionally, verify when the profile was created, how many contacts it has, and whether employment history is visible.

Check whether the job offer is also published on the agency’s website

You can then be sure that the advertisement really comes from that specific agency, and not from an entity pretending to be it.

Read terms and contracts

Do not sign anything without reading it. In case of doubt — consult the document with a lawyer or career advisor.