As millions of Americans face a challenging job market, a new wave of sophisticated job scams is exploiting vulnerable job seekers. These scams, often indistinguishable from legitimate postings, appear on trusted platforms like LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter or come from spoofed or hacked recruiter email addresses, according to interviews with over 20 job seekers, cybersecurity experts, and hiring platform executives.
Evolving Tactics in Job Scams
Unlike the poorly crafted scam messages that surged during the pandemic, today’s fraudulent job postings closely mimic legitimate listings. Eva Velasquez, CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, noted, “These fakes look so real and so legitimate, it’s almost impossible for would-be job seekers to tell the difference.” Scammers aim to steal sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers or bank account details, often under the guise of employment verification or direct deposit setup. Other schemes involve tricking applicants into clicking malicious links, disguised as Zoom interview invitations, to install malware.
One prevalent scam involves fake employers offering jobs and instructing candidates to purchase expensive equipment for remote work, promising reimbursement via fraudulent checks. Victims are often asked to return excess funds through platforms like PayPal or Zelle before the check bounces, leaving them financially liable. According to the Federal Trade Commission, online job scams increased by 19% in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year, costing Americans nearly $300 million, with an average loss of $2,000 per victim.
Real-Life Impacts
Andrea Maestas, a job seeker, encountered a fraudulent ZipRecruiter posting for an administrative assistant role at J.P. Morgan. After receiving an official-looking email requesting her credit score via suspicious links, her computer flagged the sites as unsafe. She reported the scam to ZipRecruiter, which confirmed the account was fraudulent and shut it down. Despite avoiding financial loss, Maestas remains concerned about potential security risks from clicking the links.
Similarly, Dave Pedersen, a communications professional with 20 years of experience, was targeted by a scammer posing as a recruiter for Arc’teryx. Initially convinced by the opportunity, Pedersen grew suspicious during a phone interview when the questions seemed irrelevant. Upon closer inspection, he noticed the recruiter’s email domain was slightly altered. The real recruiter confirmed the job was fake, noting multiple similar complaints that day. “I’ve worked in cybersecurity. I thought I’d never be a victim,” Pedersen said, highlighting the scams’ sophistication.
Timothy Brown, a marketing professional, applied for a vice president role at a cryptocurrency company via LinkedIn. A supposed recruiter, “Anna,” engaged him with overly personal messages, raising red flags. The company, imToken, later confirmed no such job or recruiter existed. Brown noted, “Because LinkedIn is a trusted source, the scam worked so well.”
A Challenging Job Market Fuels Vulnerability
The rise in job scams coincides with a struggling labor market, where long-term unemployment (six months or more) has reached its highest level since 2022, affecting roughly 2 million Americans. With job growth averaging only 29,000 per month over the summer of 2025, according to government data, job seekers face fierce competition and résumé-filtering algorithms, increasing their desperation and susceptibility to scams.
Cybersecurity experts suggest many of these scams originate from organized criminal groups in Southeast Asia, employing social engineering tactics similar to those used in romance scams. A Reuters report also linked North Korean hackers to fake recruiter profiles on LinkedIn and Telegram.
Industry and Individual Responses
Hiring platforms are taking action. ZipRecruiter employs internal systems to detect and remove fraudulent postings, according to spokesperson Claire Walsh. LinkedIn has introduced verification for employers and recruiters and filters suspicious messages into spam folders, said Oscar Rodriguez, vice president of product trust. However, LinkedIn emphasizes that job seekers must remain vigilant, avoiding sharing personal information early or moving conversations to unverified platforms like WhatsApp.
Jay Jones, a former copywriter laid off in 2023, has voluntarily reported approximately 32,000 fake job postings and 7,000 fraudulent profiles on LinkedIn in less than two years. His efforts include exposing scams like a fake résumé coaching service that defrauded job seekers, including Jennifer Peters, who lost $60. “It broke my heart,” Peters said, describing her embarrassment and financial strain as a single mother.
Protecting Against Job Scams
The Identity Theft Resource Center’s Velasquez emphasized that even without financial loss, the personal data shared in applications can be exploited over time. Job seekers are urged to verify email domains, scrutinize recruiter profiles for minimal activity, and report suspicious activity promptly. As scams grow more sophisticated, staying cautious is critical in navigating today’s competitive job market.