Real job or scam? 10 signs to check

Fake job offers hit people who are already struggling. Check any offer against these ten signs before you reply, pay or send anything. It takes two minutes.

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The 10 signs

1. They ask you to payApplication, training, uniform, medical, registration or "security" fees. A real employer pays you, not the other way round. Private employment agencies may not charge work seekers a fee.
2. They want your ID, bank details or a PIN too earlyNever share a PIN, OTP or password with anyone. A real employer asks for an ID copy or bank details only after a proper interview and a written offer.
3. The whole "interview" is on WhatsApp or TelegramReal employers also phone you, email you from a company address, or meet you in person or on video.
4. The email is free webmail, or does not match the company"HR" writing from a Gmail or Hotmail address, or a domain that is not on the company's real website.
5. The pay is too good for the workBig money for no experience, no qualification or "working from home". If it sounds too easy, check it twice.
6. You never applied, but you were "shortlisted"A job offer, a "you have been selected" message or a link out of the blue is a warning sign.
7. They rush you"Reply within the hour", "only 3 spots left", "pay today to keep your place".
8. You cannot check the companyNo website, no physical address, or a name and logo copied from a real company. Look it up yourself and call the number on its own website, not the one in the advert.
9. They ask you to buy something or move moneyAirtime, data, vouchers, or to receive money and pass it on. You can be left owing, or caught up in a crime.
10. A job abroad with costs up frontVisa, flight or "agency" fees for an overseas job. Be extra careful: ask family, a lawyer or the embassy before you go anywhere.

How to check that a job is real

• Find the company yourself. Search for its own website and phone the number you find there, not the number or email in the advert or message.
• Check the email address. A real company usually writes from its own domain, not from a free webmail address.
• Ask for the job in writing. A real employer can tell you the job title, the pay, where you will work and who you report to.
• Agencies cannot charge you. Private employment agencies may not charge work seekers a fee (Employment Services Act). If an agency asks you to pay to be placed, walk away.
• Take your time. A real offer is still there tomorrow. Pressure to decide within the hour is a warning sign.

If you already paid or shared documents

• Phone your bank straight away if you paid, or if you shared bank details, a PIN or a one-time PIN (OTP).
• If you sent a copy of your ID, keep a note of who you sent it to and watch your accounts for anything you do not recognise.
• Report it at your nearest police station and on the website or app where you saw the offer.

General guidance, not legal advice. CallCentreCV is an online CV service. It is not a recruiter or an employment agency, and it does not promise jobs.