It sounds too good to be true.
You’re hired without meeting anyone. The starting salary is way beyond your expectations. No interviews at all? If any of it sounds unbelievable, it's a big warning sign.
They ask you for money.
You’re asked to pay fees before you can start working. You're billed for "work from home" supplies, software, or equipment. Watch out for "gift card" or "refund" scams pretending to be job offers.
They want to know EVERYTHING about you.
Do they ask for sensitive personal or financial information before you receive a formal job offer in writing? That's a sure sign that they're looking to scam you. Stop right there.
You've never heard of the company and they have no online history.
Be sure to verify the company and the job description using a web search engine. If nothing turns up, or if you see complaints from other job applicants, you should stay away.
The recruiter’s contact info doesn’t match the company that they're hiring for.
It's easy for someone to copy and paste logos and other materials to impersonate a company. Did you look closely at the recruiter's details? Watch out for email and web addresses that look similar but are not exactly the same as the real company's.
"No experience necessary.”
There are entry level jobs out there, but if a job description's first line is "No experience necessary”, be extra careful and look out for any strings attached.
The job description is unprofessional.
Does it read like it was copied from other jobs? Glaring typographical errors? Real job descriptions are carefully written by real hiring managers who care about prospective employees. If it's a sloppy ad, it's probably bad news.
The interview is via email, or text messaging.
Be wary if your interview isn't over the phone, video conference, or in-person. Scammers try to avoid close contact until they're sure they have a victim. They sometimes use chat and text messaging to lure you in.
You can't tell what the company is about.
Unclear job expectations? No customers? Do you understand what they make or sell? No? Stay away!
You have a strange feeling about the job or company.
Does anything seem odd? Is your gut telling you to watch out? Use your instincts to stay clear away of scammers and con artists posting fake jobs.