Facebook Pixel Blog - Recruitment agency scams | Vetro
Upload CV

Recruitment Scams: How to Spot, Avoid, and Report

  • Date: Aug 17, 2023
  • Author: Chloe Meredith

Unfortunately, recruitment scams are a serious problem in today's job market. Job seekers struggle to stay on top of them and know how to avoid them. This blog will discuss;

  • The different types of recruitment scams.
  • Warning signs to look out for.
  • Steps job seekers can take to stay safe.

 

What is a Recruitment Scam?

Recruitment scams involve fraudulent schemes that attempt to lure job seekers into giving away money or personal information in return for fake job offers or interviews. 

These scams have become a pervasive issue in recent years, with job seekers often falling victim to their deceptive tactics. At Vetro, we have seen a rise in these scams and want to spread awareness of the tactics employed by fraudsters and to protect individuals and organisations from scams using our company name. 

Types of Recruitment Scams

Recruitment scams vary in complexity but typically have the same aim of hoodwinking you into paying money or offering personal information. Common types of scams include:

  • Impersonation - Fraudsters pose as recruiters working for an agency. They reach out to you via Whatsapp, text, email, or phone, and offer fake jobs. They often use a legitimate-sounding name and contact details to appear more authentic.
  • Fake Job Postings - Fraudsters post fake job postings on legitimate job boards, social media, or online classified websites, with the purpose of obtaining your private information. 
  • Fake Online Job Applications - Fraudsters post fake job postings online, ask you to fill out an application and/or provide personal information, and then use that information to gain access to your financial accounts. 

 

How to Spot Recruitment Scams

In order to stay safe from recruitment scams, it's important to be able to spot one. Here are some tips on how to do just that:

  • Unprofessional Communication - Be aware of text messages or WhatsApp messages from foreign numbers. Likewise, if you receive an email from a personal email domain such as '@hotmail.co.uk', '@gmail.com', '@icloud.com' this is likely not legitimate. All our emails come from a Vetro Recruitment domain. If in doubt, google the agency and call them to confirm. 
  • Check for Red Flags - Often, recruitment scams have signs that reveal them to be fraudulent, such as requests for payment, requests for personal information, or unsolicited job offers. If any of these signs appear, it may be a scam.
  • Research the Company - Before responding to any job posting or recruiter, it's important to research the company thoroughly. Do an online search and look for any online reviews or contact information. This can help verify if the company is legitimate or not. 
  • Verify the Recruiter - If you're interacting with an individual, don't be afraid to ask for their credentials and proof of work. Most recruitment agencies are registered with the REC or APSCO so you can check their membership online. 

 

How to Stay Safe

Once you've spotted a recruitment scam, the first step is to stay safe and avoid becoming a victim. Here are some tips on how to do that:

  • Take Precautions - DON'T respond to any unsolicited job offers, DON'T share personal information with anyone, DON'T click any download links, DON'T send them any money. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

 

How to Report a Recruitment Scam 

If you feel that you may have been a victim of a recruitment scam, there are several steps you can take to report it:

  • If you think you may have been a victim of fraud and as a result incurred a financial loss, you should report this to JobsAware and/or Action Fraud.

 

How Vetro Recruiters Get in Touch with You

At Vetro Recruitment, you will only be contacted initially if you have registered with us or we have found your CV online which we think would be a good match for a job we are working on. This initial contact will either be via email or a phone call. We will not contact you using WhatsApp. 

If you receive any messages that you believe to be a scam, you can directly contact us and we will be more than happy to confirm. 

Go Back
Similar blogs:
  • NPS Scores: What They Are and Why They Matter For You

    13/02/2025
    Read More
  • How to Save Money on Rising DBS Price

    16/12/2024
    Read More
  • The Safest Pair of Hands: Vetro Recruitment Set Elite Standards in Health and Social Care Staffing

    16/12/2024
    Read More

Get in
touch