Is That Opportunity Real? How to Evaluate a Job Posting

Job scams are on the rise. A few quick checks can protect your time, your money, and your identity.

105,000+ job scam reports to the FTC in 2024, nearly three times as many as in 2020

$513M+ in reported losses to job scams in 2024

Scammers know that job seekers are motivated and hopeful, and they are getting more convincing. Fake recruiters, polished postings, and text-message “offers” can look real at first glance. Before you share personal information, take a minute to check.

Red flags to watch for

• An offer you didn’t apply for, especially by text, WhatsApp, or social media.
• Pay that seems too good for very little work or experience.
• An offer with no real interview, or an “interview” held entirely by chat.
• Requests for money, such as paying for equipment, training, or a background check up front, or depositing a check and sending part of it back.
• Requests for your Social Security or bank details before you have a verified offer.
• Pressure to decide immediately, or contact from a personal email address instead of a company domain.

How to verify an opportunity

1. Find the job on the company’s own website. If it isn’t on the official careers page, ask why.
2. Contact the company directly using information from its website, not the link or number you were sent.
3. Check the recruiter. Look for a real LinkedIn profile, a company email address, and a history with the firm.
4. Search the company name with “scam” or “complaint” to see whether others have reported problems.

If something feels wrong, stop. Do not send money or personal information, and report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the site where you saw it.

FTG INSIGHT

A legitimate employer will never ask you to pay to get a job. Working with an established recruiter is one of the simplest ways to know the opportunity is real.

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FTG works directly with employers who are actively hiring. Let’s talk about real opportunities that fit your skills and goals.

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Sources: Federal Trade Commission, September 2025.

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