A job-seeker safety checklist for avoiding scams

Pause before you apply

Fraudulent listings often create urgency and move the conversation away from an official channel. Before sharing personal data, open the employer's official website independently and find its careers page. Compare the role title, location, requisition number, and closing date. A familiar logo or a polished message is not proof of identity.

Inspect the contact and destination

Check the complete email domain, not only the sender name. Look carefully for substituted letters and unexpected subdomains. On an application link, confirm the registrable employer or known recruitment-platform domain before entering data. A URL shortener, messaging-only interview, or request to install remote-access software deserves extra scrutiny.

Treat these requests as high risk

• Paying for equipment, training, visas, background checks, or application processing.
• Receiving a cheque and being told to forward part of the money.
• Sharing passwords, one-time codes, card details, or online-banking access.
• Sending an unrestricted identity copy before a verified hiring stage.
• Moving immediately to an encrypted chat while avoiding a company email or video call.

Reduce the impact of a mistake

Use a dedicated job-search email and a unique password with multi-factor authentication. Redact document numbers when the full value is unnecessary. Keep a record of the listing and conversation. If you already sent sensitive data, contact the relevant bank or identity authority promptly, change affected credentials, and report the listing to both the source and the impersonated company.

WorldJobs source attribution helps you inspect where a vacancy came from, but you must still verify the final employer destination before submitting sensitive information.