Job search safety
A real opportunity should withstand a few basic checks. Use this guide before sharing sensitive information or spending money.
Search for the organization’s official website and confirm that its name, location, and email domain match the listing. Be cautious when the recruiter uses a free personal email address while claiming to represent a recognizable company.
Check the careers page or call a publicly listed number—not a number supplied only in the message.
Confirm the duties, work location, schedule, employment type, qualifications, and application destination. A vague title paired with unusually high pay and no clear responsibilities deserves extra scrutiny.
Save a copy or screenshot of the listing before applying so you can compare later messages.
A legitimate employer should not require gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, equipment purchases from a specific person, or a check deposit followed by sending part of the money elsewhere.
Stop the conversation if payment is required before verified employment begins.
A resume normally needs your name, general location, work history, skills, and contact information. Do not put a Social Security number, bank account, driver’s-license image, or full birth date on a resume or initial application unless a verified process legally requires it.
Use a dedicated job-search email address and a strong, unique password.
Text-only interviews, immediate offers without meaningful screening, pressure to act within minutes, or instructions to move to an encrypted messaging app can be warning signs. Remote hiring can be legitimate, but the company and interviewer should still be verifiable.
Ask for the interviewer’s full name, role, company email, and a scheduled call.
Use the job board’s reporting tools, contact the employer through its official website, and preserve messages or receipts. If money or identity information was taken, contact the relevant financial institution and government fraud-reporting service promptly.