Job seekers are increasingly becoming targets of sophisticated online employment scams, with artificial intelligence making fraudulent postings harder to distinguish from legitimate opportunities, The Washington Post reports.
Nearly 25,000 people reported falling victim to employment scams in 2025, according to the Better Business Bureau, more than double the number in 2023, with a median loss of $1,000. Scammers often copy legitimate job postings or use “ghost” jobs, then direct applicants to fake third-party hiring sites or request personal information through email and text.
Data such as addresses, birth dates, usernames and passwords can be used to access accounts or commit identity theft. Recent graduates and low-income job seekers are particularly vulnerable because financial pressure can make them more likely to overlook subtle warning signs.
Experts also point to the rise of “task-based” scams, in which applicants receive fraudulent checks for supposedly required job equipment and are instructed to transfer the money back to the employer. Cybersecurity and consumer-protection experts recommend verifying job postings directly through a company’s website, researching unfamiliar employers and being especially cautious when recruiters request sensitive information early in the hiring process.
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