There are a variety of elements contributing to the hellscape that’s the present job market: few open roles, fierce competitors, AI automation and horrible world financial situations, to call only a few. And it is more and more a minefield, the place promising-looking postings may actually simply be scams.
These employment scams have simply turn out to be “a part of the truth of the fashionable job search,” Oscar Rodriguez, vp 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 yr in the past.
Employment scams — pretend job postings, scammers posing as recruiters and sketchy job purposes designed to steal your knowledge — are all on the rise. Over 132,000 job scams had been reported to the Federal Trade Commission in 2025, leading to $636 million in misplaced cash.
And AI instruments are turbocharging these scammers and unhealthy actors.
“It’s getting cheaper, quicker 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 notably with youthful job searchers. For instance, a current 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 regular hiring observe.
Feelings also can play a job in decision-making; in case you’re excited and relieved to obtain a proposal to interview, it’s possible you’ll be extra inclined to obtain unknown software program to affix the decision, even when it seems to be 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.
The best way to spot job scams
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 may look out for. LinkedIn discovered that in 90% of rip-off makes an attempt, the scammer tried to get the person to maneuver to a personal messaging platform, the place there are fewer protections. Being requested for delicate information, 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 searching for verification on social media accounts.
