As we find ourselves at a confluence of record low unemployment, a growing gig economy, and an explosion of technologies used in jobhunting (and hiring), opportunities abound. But so, unfortunately, do the scams and frauds.

 

A 2024 Arani article called “The Reality of Fake Job Listings on LinkedIn” estimates that 60% of all job listings are fake. Looking for work can already be stressful (especially if you’ve been laid off and time is of the essence) and now you have to worry about wasting your time on fake ads. Or worse, you actually apply to one of these scam jobs and give up vital pieces of information or personally identifiable date. In the case of workers in sensitive or even classified fields (think DoD, finance, or nuclear engineering), scammers may even be able to access or piece together information that could impact national security.

 

So, how can you tell if a job is fake?

 

1. It’s too good to be true.

The salary is too big, the perks are unbelievable, or the work is too perfect.

 

2. There is an urgent request for sensitive information.

Don’t just hand over your SSN or other sensitive information. If you’re asked to complete a background investigation, make sure it’s with an accredited organization.

 

3. Money is involved.

If anyone asks you to send money, money orders, or gift cards or to pay a “headhunter” or other expert to help with your search, it’s a scam.

 

4. The job description is vague.

If the description feels generic or cobbled together with buzzwords, move along.

 

5. LinkedIn is the ONLY place it’s listed.

If you see something promising on LinkedIn, go to the company’s Careers page. If it isn’t cross-listed there—and a follow-up call to the HR department yields nothing—it’s fake.

 

While LinkedIn can be a valuable resource for networking and staying on top of industry trends, job hunting can be another story. Don’t be scared of using LinkedIn as a tool (with over 58 million legitimate companies using LinkedIn to hire, that would be a mistake!) but be mindful and vigilant in your search, and augment that search by reaching out to real live people in your network.