Fake Recruiter and LinkedIn Job Scams
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Fake recruiter and employment scams are a rapidly growing category of fraud, with reported losses skyrocketing from $90 million in 2020 to over $501 million in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
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How It Works
1
A scammer, posing as a recruiter on a professional networking site like LinkedIn or via an unsolicited email or text, contacts a job seeker about a promising, often remote, high-paying job opportunity.
2
The fake recruiter conducts a brief, unprofessional interview, often exclusively through text, chat, or a video call where the interviewer's camera is off. They quickly extend a job offer without a thorough vetting process.
3
The scammer then pressures the victim to provide sensitive personal information like their Social Security or driver's license number for "paperwork" or bank account details for "direct deposit."
4
Finally, the scammer requests money from the victim. They may send a fake check and ask the victim to wire back a portion, or demand payment for equipment, training, or background checks, often in the form of cryptocurrency or gift cards.
Red Flags
- You are asked to pay for equipment, training, or a background check before starting the job.
- The recruiter's email address is a personal domain (like gmail.com) instead of a corporate one.
- The interview process is conducted entirely over text message or a chat app like Telegram or WhatsApp.
- You receive a job offer without a formal interview or reference check.
- The job description offers an unusually high salary for the required experience level.
- You are sent a check for more than the agreed-upon amount and asked to wire back the difference.
- The recruiter pressures you to provide personal information like your Social Security Number or bank details immediately.
What to Do If Targeted
- Stop all communication with the fake recruiter immediately.
- Never send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to someone for a job offer.
- Do not provide your Social Security number, bank account details, or a copy of your driver's license.
- Independently verify the company and job opening by finding the official company website and contacting them directly through a listed phone number or email address.
- Search the company's name online along with terms like "scam," "complaint," or "fraud" to see if others have reported issues.
- Report the fake profile and job posting directly on the platform where you were contacted, such as LinkedIn.
How to Report It
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission to help with investigations and consumer protection.
- FBI IC3 — Report internet-based crime to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
- IdentityTheft.gov — If you shared personal information, report potential identity theft and get a recovery plan from the FTC.
- FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
- AARP Fraud Helpline — Call 877-908-3360 for free support from trained fraud specialists. Available to anyone, not just AARP members.
Key Statistics
- Reported consumer losses to job scams jumped from $90 million in 2020 to $501 million in 2024. — Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 2025
- An estimated 14 million people are exposed to employment scams annually, with total losses exceeding $2 billion per year. — Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- LinkedIn detected more than 83 million fake profiles and 117 million spam or scam incidents in the first half of 2025 alone. — Forbes / LinkedIn 2026
- In the first six months of 2024, reported losses to job scams topped $220 million, largely driven by a surge in 'task scams'. — Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 2024
- The number of consumer reports about job and employment agency scams tripled between 2020 and 2024. — Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Reported losses from job and employment agency scams surged from $90 million in 2020 to $501 million in 2024, a more than fivefold increase in four years. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) notes that these figures likely represent only a fraction of the actual harm as most fraud is not reported.
Look for red flags like a new or incomplete profile with few connections. A legitimate recruiter will use a corporate email address, not a personal one like @gmail.com. Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true or hiring processes that are rushed and conducted entirely via text or chat.
A reshipping scam is a type of employment fraud where you are "hired" to receive packages and mail them to another address, which is often overseas. The merchandise is typically bought with stolen credit cards, and you are unknowingly acting as an intermediary for criminals. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service states there are no legitimate jobs sending or receiving packages from home.
Task scams are a rapidly growing type of job scam where victims are offered work completing simple online tasks, like rating products or "optimizing" apps. Scammers require victims to pay with their own money, often cryptocurrency, to unlock more tasks and higher earnings. The FTC reported that these scams drove overall job scam losses to over $220 million in just the first half of 2024.
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