How to spot a fake job posting
US focus on how to spot a fake job posting, as of 30 Oct 2026. Indian readers: see fake job offers in India.
A fake job posting usually fails at least two of ten quick checks: the company cannot be found independently, the apply link or email domain does not match the company, the pay is out of line with the role, or the posting asks for money or sensitive data too early. Run the checks below before you send a resume.
At a glance
- Spend ten minutes on the posting before applying, not after.
- No single sign proves a scam. Two or more failed checks is a reason to stop.
- Never pay to apply, and never send an ID number or bank details to get an interview.
- This page is about inspecting the posting. If someone has already contacted you, read job scam red flags.
Fake, scam or ghost: what is the difference?
These get mixed up, and they call for different reactions.
| Type | What it is | Risk to you | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scam posting | Fraudster posts a job to collect money, ID documents or bank access | High | Do not engage; report it |
| Fake listing (data harvest) | Posting exists to collect resumes or contact details for resale or marketing | Medium (spam, phishing) | Do not apply; report to the board |
| Ghost job | Real company, but no active plan to hire (evergreen listing, pipeline building, or left up after filling) | Low (wasted time) | Apply only if cheap; check posting age |
A ghost job is not a crime and is not a reason to panic. A scam posting is. The checks below separate the second from the first.
The ten checks
1. Can you find the company outside the posting?
Search for the company name alone. A real employer normally has a website, a registered legal entity and some independent footprint. For US companies, the state Secretary of State business search shows whether the entity is registered and in good standing. A brand-new site with no address, no leadership names and stock photos is a warning.
2. Does the email or apply link match the company?
Compare the domain on the apply button and recruiter email with the company website. [email protected] for Acme Logistics is normal. [email protected] or acme-logistics-jobs.co is not. Look-alike domains (one extra word or a swapped extension) are a common trick.
3. Is the pay believable?
Compare the pay with the going rate for that role and city. A "data entry, work from home, $45 an hour, no experience" posting is out of line. Use the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (bls.gov/ooh) for typical pay by occupation. Pay far above or far below the norm both deserve a second look.
4. Is the description specific?
Real postings name the team, tools, reporting line and location. Scam postings are vague about duties and long on perks: "flexible hours, great earnings, immediate start". If you cannot tell what you would do on a Tuesday, ask yourself why.
5. How is it written?
Heavy spelling errors, mixed currencies, or copy pasted from another company's posting are signals. Perfect writing proves nothing, so treat this as a weak check.
6. What does the posting ask of you?
Applying should require a resume, maybe a short form. If the posting asks for a Social Security number, date of birth, copy of ID, bank details or a "refundable" fee up front, stop. Employers legitimately collect tax and ID details after an offer, through onboarding.
7. Where does the apply button go?
Hover before you click. A listing on a job board that sends you to a chat app, a form hosted on a free survey tool or a file download is suspicious. Legitimate boards also send people to the employer's own application system, so an external link is normal on its own. It should land on a page that clearly belongs to the company.
8. How old is it, and is it duplicated?
The same role reposted in ten cities under different company names, or a posting live for many months, suggests a ghost job or a template scam. Check the posted date and the company's own careers page. If the role is only on the job board and not on the company site, that is worth a note.
9. Does the recruiter exist?
Search the recruiter's name with the company name. A real recruiter usually has a professional profile that shows the company and a work history older than a few weeks. A profile with few connections and a mismatched photo is a flag.
10. Does the company name match everywhere?
The posting, email signature, offer letter and website should use the same legal name. A staffing firm hiring for a client should say so and name the client when asked. A refusal to say who the end employer is, combined with other flags, counts.
Worked example
A posting reads: "Remote Customer Support Associate, $38/hour, no experience, start this week. Interview on Telegram. Contact [email protected]."
| Check | Result |
|---|---|
| 1 Company outside posting | Company name returns a one-page site registered last month |
| 2 Domain | Outlook address, not the company domain: fail |
| 3 Pay | $38/hour for no-experience support is well above typical: fail |
| 4 Description | Three vague bullets: weak |
| 6 Asks for | Photo of ID "for payroll" before interview: fail |
| 7 Channel | Interview on Telegram text chat: fail |
Five fails out of six checked. Do not apply, and report the posting to the board.
A simple scoring rule
- 0 fails: reasonable to apply. Still never pay or send ID numbers early.
- 1 fail, explainable (for example, a small firm using a Gmail address): ask for an official email and verify the company by another route.
- 2 or more fails: do not apply.
- Any request for money or ID numbers before an offer: treat it as a scam whatever the other results.
What LiveRec checks and what it does not
LiveRec, the job platform for job seekers, employers and recruiters, verifies business employers through a company registration check (EIN and state of registration for US companies) and awards a Verified business badge when it passes. See what is a verified employer. This confirms the company exists and is in good standing. It does not guarantee that every job is a good job, that pay is as advertised, or that nobody could impersonate the company elsewhere. The badge says nothing about any other job, so use the checks above on every listing.
Frequently asked questions
Is a posting with no salary fake? No. Many real postings omit pay, though some states and cities require pay ranges. Missing pay is only a flag when combined with vagueness and requests for money or ID.
A company asked me to buy equipment and promised to reimburse me. Is that normal? Treat it as a scam pattern. The FTC describes fake check schemes where you deposit a check, buy equipment, and the check later bounces. Real employers ship equipment or reimburse through payroll.
How do I report a fake posting? Report it to the job board, and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you lost money, also tell your bank immediately.
Can a fake posting be on a trusted job board? Yes. No board catches everything. Run the checks even on well-known sites.
What if I already applied? Applying with a resume is usually low risk. Watch for phishing and do not click links or share ID numbers. If you did share sensitive data, see what to do if you were scammed.
Next step
Open the job you are considering and run checks 1, 2 and 6 first. They take two minutes and catch most scams.
Sources
- FTC, Job scams: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
- FTC, Report fraud: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
- IRS, Employer ID Numbers: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-id-numbers
This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.