You found a job posting that seems perfect. Great pay, flexible hours, and they want to hire you almost immediately.
Before you get too excited, it's worth asking: is this too good to be true?
Unfortunately, job scams are a growing problem, and they're getting more sophisticated every year. Today, FindYourJobNow.com is breaking down the warning signs you need to watch for so you can protect yourself while searching for legitimate work.
The Federal Trade Commission has issued repeated consumer alerts about fake job and recruiter scams, including a specific warning about text message job offers that turn out to be fraudulent.[1] These scams often start innocently enough. You get a text or message from someone claiming to represent a real or fake company, offering you a position that sounds appealing and requires very little effort to get.
So what should raise a red flag? Here are eight signs a job opportunity may not be legitimate. First, you receive an unexpected text or message about a job you never applied for. Legitimate employers rarely recruit this way out of the blue. Second, the employer asks you to pay for anything upfront, whether that's a background check, training materials, or equipment. Real employers do not charge you to work for them.
Third, you're asked to deposit a check and send part of the money back or forward it somewhere else. This is a classic fake check scam, and it's illegal for you to participate in even unknowingly. Fourth, the job involves reshipping packages from your home. This is frequently connected to stolen goods or money laundering operations. Fifth, you're asked for sensitive banking or personal information very early in the process, often before you've even had a real interview.
Sixth, the job promises unusually high pay for very little actual work or explains almost nothing about what the work actually involves. Seventh, communication happens exclusively through text or chat apps rather than a company email address or phone number. And eighth, the company has no verifiable online presence, no legitimate website, no LinkedIn page, and no way to confirm they actually exist.
If you notice any of these signs, slow down. Research the company independently rather than relying on links or contact information provided in the message itself. Search for the company name along with the word "scam" to see if others have reported similar experiences. Legitimate employers will never pressure you to make a decision immediately or threaten that the opportunity will disappear if you don't act right now.
You can also use trusted resources to verify legitimate opportunities. The U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop platform provides job search resources built specifically to help you find real opportunities through verified channels rather than scattered messages from unknown senders.[2]
Ready to protect yourself while job searching? Here's your action plan: Never pay money to get a job. Never deposit a check from an employer and send money back. Research any company thoroughly before sharing personal information. Trust your instincts if something feels off.
Head over to our homepage (or click the home button above) and use our advanced job search toolbar. Type in the kind of job you're looking for and where you want to work… then click "view jobs."
Job scams are increasingly common, but they almost always share the same warning signs: upfront payments, fake checks, reshipping requests, and pressure to act fast. Slow down, verify the employer, and never give out sensitive information before you've confirmed the opportunity is real. Protecting yourself is just as important as finding the job itself.