What's a job scam? 

In a job scam, fraudsters try to lure job seekers with fake career opportunities. They promise a high income for little effort. They may ask for your personal and banking information to use or launder money. If a job opportunity seems too good to be true, it probably is.

How job scams work

  1. A fraudster posts a fake job opportunity on job boards, such as Indeed and LinkedIn.
  2. The job opportunity often promises high income for little effort. These jobs are often disguised as work-from-home opportunities and require no credentials.
  3. You receive the job opportunity through an expedited hiring process, often without an application or interview.
  4. The employer asks for your personal and banking information and claim it's for hiring purposes. Then, they may use your personal bank account to launder money.

Warning signs of job scams

  • The job posting has no contact information or job description
  • The employer asks for payment for your training
  • The employer asks you to pay for a credit report as part of their application process
  • The employer asks you to buy gift cards, Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency
  • You're asked for personal details, such as your Social Insurance Number (SIN), or banking information, such as your passwords, PINs and verification codes
  • You receive an email that tells you the employer has reviewed your resume, when you didn't send it
  • Be wary of mystery shopper positions or work-from-home jobs that may involve receiving and reshipping packages

Stay safe with our tips

  • Never accept money on behalf of someone you don't know.
  • Don't rush to accept a job opportunity. Be cautious of jobs that seem too good to be true.
  • Check your bank statements regularly for any unknown transactions.
  • Always protect your personal and banking information, such as your Social Insurance Number, credit card number and passwords.
  • Research the company and the job opportunity. Find the company on the internet and review their online presence, including their social media. In a search engine, enter the company name and the word "scam" to see if the business is legitimate.

Learn more about job scams

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Opens in a new window.

Report fraud when it happens and track the latest data on fraud in Canada.

The Little Black Book of Scams Opens in a new window.

Download the Canadian Competition Bureau's guide to scams in 8 different languages.

Canadian Bankers Association Opens in a new window.

Read about the latest news and trends in fraud awareness and prevention.