A polished posting or familiar logo does not prove that a role or recruiter is legitimate. Verify the employer and the communication path before sharing documents beyond a normal application.
- Prefer authoritative company career pages and ATS links.
- Verify recruiter identity through independent channels.
- Never pay to receive a job offer.
Verify the role
Find the same opening on the employer's official careers site or confirmed ATS. Check the company domain, role location, posting history and whether the job ID is consistent.
Verify the person
Inspect the sender domain and independently locate the recruiter's company profile. Be cautious when communication moves immediately to messaging apps, uses lookalike domains or avoids live conversation.
- No upfront payment
- No gift-card or equipment reimbursement scheme
- No banking credentials before verified onboarding
- No pressure to bypass normal checks
Minimize sensitive data
A resume normally does not require government identity numbers, bank details or full documents. Share onboarding data only through a verified employer process after confirming the relationship.
Common questions
Is a job absent from the company site always fake?
Not always—agencies and confidential searches exist—but it deserves independent verification from the employer or an established staffing partner.
Should I provide identity documents during an application?
Usually not. Confirm why they are required, who controls the process and whether the stage is appropriate before sharing sensitive identity data.
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