How can I tell if a recruiter on WhatsApp or text is fake?

LiveRec EditorialUpdated

US rules and agencies as of 30 Oct 2026. Official links checked on 30 October 2026.

A fake recruiter contacts you first, often by text, WhatsApp or Telegram, uses a real company's name and quickly moves the conversation to a chat app. To confirm one, find the company's own contact details yourself and ask them to verify the recruiter. Never rely on a number or link the recruiter gives you.

Signs of a fake recruiter

  • The first message is vague ("Are you open to remote work?") and comes from an unknown number.
  • The person asks to continue on WhatsApp or Telegram and will not use a company email.
  • The profile picture, name and job title are generic, and there is no history you can check.
  • They can describe pay but not the team, the manager or the exact role.
  • Interviews are done in chat only, with no call or video.

How to confirm a recruiter

  1. Go to the company's website by typing the address. Look for a careers page and a listing for the role.
  2. Contact the company through its listed general channel and ask whether the recruiter works for them.
  3. Check the recruiter's email domain against the company's website. A look-alike domain with an extra word or letter is a common trick.
  4. Ask for a short call. Real recruiters accept; scammers find reasons not to.

Do not do this in a chat

Do not send ID photos, Social Security numbers, bank details or a verification code. See identity theft and SSN requests. Block and report the number inside the app after saving screenshots.

How LiveRec compares

On LiveRec, interviews run as video interviews inside LiveRec, and you can message employers through the platform. What LiveRec does and does not check is on what LiveRec checks.

What the messages often look like

Fake recruiter messages tend to be short, friendly and vague. They may say you were referred, that your resume was found online, or that a role pays well for part-time work. The FTC warns about ads promising thousands of dollars a month from home with little time or effort, and about fake nanny, caregiver and virtual assistant postings, including messages that seem to come from your school or community.

Step by step: what to do when a stranger messages you about a job

  1. Do not click links or open attachments.
  2. Ask which company and which posting the message refers to.
  3. Look the company up yourself and find the role on its careers page.
  4. Email or call the company's published general contact to ask if the recruiter works there.
  5. If the person pushes to move to another app, asks for money or asks for ID, stop.
  6. Take screenshots, block the number and report it.

Common mistakes

  • Answering "yes, interested" to see what happens. It confirms your number is active.
  • Using the contact details the recruiter gave you to check the recruiter.
  • Accepting a "job" that is only tasks inside a chat group. See task scams.
  • Sharing a verification code that arrives by text. No recruiter needs it.

Where to report

Report fake recruiter messages to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and use the report or block tools inside the messaging app. If you lost money, see what to do if you paid. You can also report suspicious LiveRec postings; see how to report job scams.

FAQ

A real recruiter used WhatsApp. Is that suspicious? Not by itself. The test is whether you can independently confirm who they are and whether they ask for money or documents.

Should I reply "stop"? Block instead. Replying confirms the number is active.

How do I report a fake recruiter on a messaging app? Save screenshots, block the number, use the app's report option and file at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

What should I never send in a chat? Your SSN, ID photos, bank login details or any verification code. A real employer collects hiring forms later through its own HR system.

Sources

  • FTC, Job scams: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
  • FTC, ReportFraud: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
  • FTC, What To Do if You Were Scammed: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed (accessed 31 October 2026)

Next step: Verify an employer.

This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.