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Job Applicant Scams: What They Are, Real Examples, and How to Avoid Them

We’re seeing a rise in fake “employers” targeting jobseekers with too-good-to-be-true offers, phishing forms, and pay-to-work schemes. The aim is simple: steal money or personal data (ID, bank details, TFN). Let’s break down how these scams work, the red flags to watch for, and the exact steps to verify a role, especially with ABN checks, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor.


What is a job applicant scam?

Any fake job, recruiter, or HR contact that tries to extract value from you during the hiring process, cash, crypto/gift cards, equipment “fees,” or sensitive info—before you’ve got a legitimate contract from a real, registered business.


Hall-of-Fame Red Flags

  • Unprofessional channels: Interviews via WhatsApp/Telegram only, or DMs that push you off the platform immediately.

  • Rushed timelines: “You’re hired!” within minutes or after one text chat.

  • Up-front costs: Asking you to pay for training, equipment, software licences, or “onboarding.”

  • Strange payment methods: Gift cards, crypto, PayID to a personal name, or overseas bank accounts.

  • Too-perfect pay: High salary for little experience, minimal job detail.

  • Document grabs: Requests for passport/driver’s licence/TFN/bank details before a written offer.

  • Email mismatch: “HR@company@gmail.com” instead of a company domain, or domains that don’t match the business name.

  • Copy-paste ads: Vague JDs, odd grammar, stolen logos.


Real-World Scam Examples

  1. Equipment reimbursement: “Buy a laptop and we’ll repay you first pay cycle.” Repayment never comes; you’re out of pocket.

  2. Onboarding fee: “Deposit $150 for compliance checks.” It’s a fake portal; your card or identity is compromised.

  3. Gift-card test: “We need urgent gift cards for clients—prove you can handle petty cash.” Classic fraud.

  4. Phishing forms: A slick “HR portal” that harvests TFN, licence, bank login, MyGov details.

  5. Fake recruiter profiles: New LinkedIn accounts with borrowed headshots, no real work history, pushing you to WhatsApp.


How to Vet an Employer (Step-by-Step)


Use this checklist every time, fast, consistent, and protective.

1) Check the ABN (Australia-specific)

  • Ask for the legal business name and ABN.

  • Search the ABN on ABN Lookup (Australian Business Register).

  • Confirm:


    • Entity name matches the company name they gave you

    • Status is “Active”

    • Business location makes sense

    • Trading name (if any) aligns with branding


  • If they refuse to provide an ABN or it doesn’t match—walk away.


2) Cross-check on LinkedIn

  • Look for a company page (not just a personal profile).

  • Check employee count, recent posts, founding date, and people who work there—do profiles look real and active?

  • Review the recruiter’s profile: multi-year history, mutual connections, endorsements? New account + stock photo = caution.


3) Review Glassdoor (and similar)

  • Scan overall rating + recent reviews (last 6–12 months).

  • Look for pattern signals: many glowing one-liners created in a short window, or repeated complaints about payroll/HR ethics.

  • No Glassdoor? That’s not a deal-breaker for small firms—but combine with other checks.


4) Website & domain hygiene

  • Does the website list the same legal name as the ABN?

  • Contact details: physical address, phone, professional email?

  • Email domain match: offer letters and HR contacts should come from the company’s domain (not free email).

  • Google the domain with words like “scam,” “review,” “ABN.”



5) Job ad consistency

  • Compare the ad across platforms (SEEK, LinkedIn, company site). Are title, salary, and contact details consistent?

  • Ask for a position description on letterhead and a formal offer before sharing IDs.


What to Share and When

  • OK early: CV, portfolio, LinkedIn.

  • Only after a formal written offer: licence/passport, TFN, super/bank details, tax forms, background checks (and only via secure channels).

  • Never: paying for equipment/training; sending gift cards; sharing banking logins or MyGov.



Scripts You Can Use

  • ABN request:

    “Before we proceed, could you share the legal entity name and ABN so we can confirm details on ABN Lookup? It’s our standard compliance step.”

  • Domain mismatch:

    “Could you resend from your company email domain and include the registered entity name on the letterhead?”

  • Up-front payment ask:

    “We don’t pay fees or purchase equipment prior to our first day. If that’s required, we’ll have to withdraw.”


If You Suspect a Scam

  1. Stop contact. Don’t pay or share more data.

  2. Collect evidence: screenshots of ads, messages, emails, bank details provided.

  3. Report:


    • Scamwatch (ACCC)

    • ReportCyber (ACSC) if identity/financial data was shared

    • The platform (LinkedIn/SEEK/Indeed)

    • Your bank immediately if money was sent (ask for a fraud recall).

    • IDCARE for identity support.


  4. Protect your accounts: change passwords, enable MFA, monitor credit (consider a credit ban if ID leaked).



Quick “Is This Real?” Checklist



☐ ABN provided and active, names match

☐ Company domain email + professional website

☐ LinkedIn company page with real employees

☐ No up-front fees or gift-card requests

☐ Written offer before sensitive documents

☐ Role details consistent across platforms



Legit employers won’t rush, won’t charge you to work, and won’t ask for sensitive documents before a formal offer. If something feels off, it usually is. Verify with ABN Lookup, cross-check LinkedIn and Glassdoor, and trust your gut, your best career moves start with solid due diligence.

 
 
 

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