Not sure if a recruiter is real? Scammers frequently impersonate recruiters to steal personal information or money. Before engaging with any recruiter — especially one who contacted you first — use this 5-step checklist to verify they are legitimate.
If a recruiter will not verify their identity through official company channels, treat it as a scam until proven otherwise.
Check their company email domain, confirm they work there via LinkedIn, and cross-check the job on the official company careers page.
Not always, but it’s high risk if they refuse official email, won’t do a video call, or pressure you to act quickly.
Free email providers (Gmail/Yahoo), misspelled company domains, mismatched sender name, and replies going to a different address.
No. Legitimate employers never ask candidates to pay fees to apply, interview, or start work. Any payment request is a scam.
Avoid sharing bank details, ID scans, tax/SSN numbers, or crypto wallet info before verifying the recruiter and receiving a formal written offer.
Search the company’s official careers page for the exact role. Call the company using the number on their website—not the one in the message.
Yes. Scammers clone profiles. Check employment history, mutual connections, activity history, and whether the profile links to the correct company.
Stop communication, don’t send money or personal info, screenshot everything, and report the account on the platform.