There are loads of components contributing to the hellscape that’s the present job market: few open roles, fierce competitors, AI automation and horrible world financial circumstances, to call just some. And it is more and more a minefield, the place promising-looking postings would possibly actually simply be scams.
These employment scams have simply grow to be “a part of the fact of the fashionable job search,” Oscar Rodriguez, vice chairman of belief merchandise at LinkedIn, instructed me.
Practically three-quarters (72%) of job searchers say they query the legitimacy of a job posting earlier than making use of, a LinkedIn report launched on Wednesday discovered. Mistrust is rising, with 57% saying they’re extra more likely to query whether or not a job posting is a rip-off now than a 12 months in the past.
Employment scams — faux job postings, scammers posing as recruiters and sketchy job purposes designed to steal your information — are all on the rise. Over 132,000 job scams have been reported to the Federal Commerce Fee in 2025, leading to $636 million in misplaced cash.
And AI instruments are turbocharging these scammers and unhealthy actors.
“It’s getting cheaper, sooner and simpler to credibly fake to be somebody or one thing that you just’re not,” Rodriguez mentioned.
For job seekers, the promise of a possible job could also be sufficient to propel them to miss pink flags. This occurs significantly with youthful job searchers. For instance, a latest school grad who hasn’t utilized to many roles earlier than may not understand {that a} random recruiter asking them for a counseling charge earlier than making use of is not a typical hiring apply.
Feelings also can play a job in decision-making; should you’re excited and relieved to obtain a suggestion to interview, you could be extra inclined to obtain unknown software program to affix the decision, even when it appears to be like sketchy. Practically a 3rd (32%) of Gen Z job seekers admitted to ignoring rip-off warning indicators as a result of job alternatives are so scarce, the report discovered.
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LinkedIn, for its half, says it removes over 98% of rip-off content material earlier than social media customers ever encounter it. That is “needed, however not ample,” Rodriguez mentioned, which is why the platform is constructing new instruments to assist them spot fraudsters and scammers.
There are some frequent techniques you’ll be able to look out for. LinkedIn discovered that in 90% of rip-off makes an attempt, the scammer tried to get the consumer to maneuver to a non-public messaging platform, the place there are fewer protections. Being requested for delicate data, upfront funds or being pressured into making selections shortly are different pink flags.
On the flip facet, job seekers are more and more reaching out to recruiters to confirm {that a} posting is actual, checking particulars on an organization’s job board and on the lookout for verification on social media accounts.
