Reported job scams have surged over 1,000% in a matter of months
Real applications still matter more than ever. The Get Interviews Resume Toolkit makes sure your effort goes toward roles that are actually real.
A text lands on your phone. "We saw your resume online, interested in a remote position paying $35/hour, reply YES to learn more."
You didn't apply for anything. That's the point. It's not a real job.
Job scam reports have exploded recently, and a large share of job seekers now say they've either encountered a fake posting or been contacted by a fraudulent recruiter. This isn't a rare, easy to spot scheme anymore. It's common enough that everyone searching right now needs to know the signs.
How These Scams Usually Work
An unsolicited text or email arrives out of nowhere, often mentioning a real, recognizable company
The message is vague about the actual work, but specific about pay, often unusually high for how little effort is described
You're asked to reply "YES" or "INTERESTED" rather than click a link, since that's harder for spam filters to catch
Once you engage, the conversation moves toward requesting personal information, payment for "equipment," or banking details for a signing bonus
Warning Signs Worth Knowing
You never applied for this specific role
Legitimate recruiters occasionally reach out cold, but they reference a specific, real role you can verify, not a vague "remote position."
The email domain doesn't match the real company
A message claiming to be from a major company but sent from a generic or slightly misspelled domain is a clear red flag.
You're asked to pay for anything upfront
Equipment, background checks, training materials. Real employers don't ask new hires to pay them before starting.
The whole process happens over text or chat, with no verified calendar invite
A real interview process almost always includes a calendar invite from a company domain, not just an ongoing text thread.
How to Verify Before You Engage
Check the company's actual careers page directly for the listing, rather than trusting a link sent to you
Call the company through a publicly listed number, not one provided in the suspicious message
Search the exact wording of the message, scam templates get reused and often show up in other people's reports
Final Thought
A slower, more cautious job search is frustrating enough without also having to screen out fraud.
Treating every unsolicited offer as unverified until proven otherwise isn't paranoia right now. It's simply accurate.
Keep Your Effort Aimed at Real Opportunities
The Get Interviews Resume Template makes tailoring fast enough that you can apply broadly and confidently to verified, real openings, without wasting hours on anything questionable.
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Have You Gotten One of These Texts?
Reply and tell me what it said. It may become the next OwnerPath guide.