Fake Job Listings with Bogus Background Check Fees
Scammers are posing as recruiters on LinkedIn and other job sites, asking applicants to pay for a "background check" through online forms. The setup looks official, often using real company names and detailed instructions.
Job hunters are told their application will not be reviewed until they complete a paid background check using a specific link. The instructions usually claim the payment is required by a verification agency and that outside reports are not accepted, creating a false sense of legitimacy.
Sections from a fraudulent job post used in the background check scam.
These scams may seem obvious to most job seekers, but they can easily fool those applying for a first-time job or struggling to find work. The pressure to secure a position makes it easier to overlook the red flags that look like a routine hiring step.
Legitimate employers never ask candidates to cover these costs or make payments through links in a form. Any hiring process that requires you to pay upfront or share personal details outside a secure company portal is likely a scam.
Report these listings to the job site and to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
Explore the #ScamAlert series.