The 9 dead giveaways of a fake job post

Note: I've gotten the vibe that people think we're some conglomerate, monster company. The reality is, we're a small team and I have no idea if people like this newsletter. As such, a reply of any kind like "I hate this", "I love this", "What is the meaning of life?" goes a long way!

We’ve all been there: scrolling through LinkedIn for hours, hoping to find a diamond in the rough. (Cue Aladdin music.) Suddenly, a miracle—you’ve found an entry-level job that’s remote with a salary of $1 million per month!

Sounds a bit far-fetched, right? It’s more than that—it’s almost certainly a fake job listing.

As disheartening as it is, there’s a wide variety of fake jobs out there. Even worse, fake jobs are more popular than ever thanks to the increase in remote work (which makes it easier to entice candidates).

It’s up to you to learn what’s real and what’s phony so you can avoid applying for a fake job (which is why I’ve written this newsletter so none of you fall prey to these scams).

Keep in mind that a fake job isn’t like a phantom listing where the job is real, but it’s no longer available. On the contrary, fake job listings are made to exploit you. (Sounds like some real companies I know, but I digress…)

It may seem harmless at first if you’re duped by a fake listing, but it can cost you more than just your dignity. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost $68 million due to fake job listings in the first quarter of 2022. On average, victims reported $3K in losses after being scammed by fake jobs.

Sound scary? What’s even scarier is that many fake jobs look reputable. They might even be listed with an official company name (like Google), making them even harder to spot. However, there are ways to discern truth from fiction!

Here’s how to tell if a job is fake:

1. The job is a little too perfect

Like the example in the beginning, if a job offers a super high salary with minimal requirements or experience, don’t even bother applying. The rule of thumb: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I’d recommend looking up jobs with the same title to see the salaries and requirements from other employers. That will help you decide if it’s too perfect or just right.

2. They ask for a fee/require you to cash a check immediately

Anything involving money immediately after the interview is a serious red flag. You shouldn’t have to pay for onboarding or training, nor should you have to cash a check or send a check right away. If this happens to you, duck out immediately!

3. You can’t find any information on the company (or a physical address)

There are few excuses for not having an online presence. Maybe it’s a brand-new company that just started out, but that’s not usually the case. In general, don’t apply for companies that don’t have reputable press or online information.

4. The job description (or other communication) has mistakes

This is an immediate sign that something’s wrong. Even if it’s a real job, why would a reputable company allow their job description to look so terrible?

5. The email address or URL is generic or “off”

I don’t know quite how to describe if something’s “off,” but you should always trust your gut. If the URL looks suspicious or the email address is generic (like name@gmail.com), then get out of there.

You should also take a serious look at the company name. For example, “Goggle” isn’t real, while “Google” is. This can be a major tip-off that the job is fake!

6. You get an offer immediately, or even without an interview.

No matter how talented you are, companies are going to take you through a standard onboarding process, which likely includes multiple interviews. If an employer hires you on the spot or within a day of your interview, that’s not a good sign.

7. You’re asked to download something

Admittedly, this may not be a big issue. Downloading Microsoft Teams or Zoom, for example, is likely okay since they’re standard applications used by a variety of companies. However, if the employer requires you to download a messaging system you’ve never heard of, that’s a red flag.

As a test, offer the employer other ways to contact you, like through Zoom, Teams, Slack, or other reputable messaging systems. If they still insist that you download their own messaging system for unknown reasons, say farewell.

8. They require you to provide private information early on

You should never have to provide your bank account information unless you’re officially hired (aka with a contract), and it’s still not mandatory to provide your Social Security Number to employers.

9. The job doesn’t make sense

This one relies on your institution. If the job sounds utterly pointless, that’s a red flag. Repacking materials, reselling merchandise you had to pay for, and assembling products are all jobs that are most likely fake.

Here’s how to tell if a job is REAL:

After reading all this, you may feel discouraged about finding a real job. Is there a way to automatically tell if a job listing is legit?

Fortunately, yes! Go through the following list for each job description to make sure it’s real.

• You found the job through the company’s career page
• The company has been positively referenced in reputable news sources like Forbes, Business Insider, The New York Times, etc.
• You’ve found and verified the recruiter/hiring manager online
• You’ve done some research and found positive 3rd-party articles about the company

Most of all, apply your critical thinking skills and use your intuition. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when a job is on the line!

You got this,

Stephen Greet, Co-founder of BeamJobs