Red flags to look for as AI job scams target jobseekers with hyper-realistic 'dream jobs'
A data analytics professional almost fell victim to a hyper-realistic ‘dream job’ as AI job scams become increasingly sophisticated and more difficult to spot.
Daniel Harnack shared with Business Insider his experience of an ‘elaborate’ AI scam he uncovered in his emails. Harnack described the job role that was sent to him as being ‘perfectly tailored’ to his previous experience, with the scammer even stealing a recruiter’s LinkedIn profile picture, linking to her account and creating a fake email address.
What is even more worrying, the traditional red flags most people would know to look out for were not actually there. With the help of AI, the job listing appeared to be very real and nearly fooled the data analyst.
New red flags to look out for in AI job scams
According to Tomas Stamulis, CSO at Surfshark, scammers are now able to use AI to ‘generate convincing job adverts, personalized messages, and professional-looking recruiter profiles in seconds’.
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In commentary shared with UNILAD Tech, he continues: “Poor spelling and awkward language were once telltale signs of fraud, but AI means even fraudulent messages can appear polished and credible. A fake recruiter doesn’t need to sound suspicious to be dangerous.”
So, with traditional signs including obviously fake sounding names or companies no longer being a reliable factor in job scams, what are the new red flags that we need to look out for?
Hannah Williams, who is the author of Start Now, The Essential Guide to Jobs, Money and Making it Happen, which covers how to spot job scams in the age of AI, shares her insight on the new warning signs we should be aware of.
The jobs sounds too good to be true
Be aware of a generous salary being offered for a role that requires ‘little or no experience, particularly if it promises flexible hours and remote working, should raise suspicions’.
Williams continues: “Scammers know exactly how to make an opportunity sound irresistible.”
She also warns about being rushed into making a decision quickly as scammers will ‘manufacture urgency’ to get you to respond immediately. Williams points out that a ‘genuine opportunity will stand up to some scrutiny’.
Asking for money or personal information upfront
No job application process should cost you money, so if you’re being asked for things like ‘a training fee, registration charge, background check or compulsory course’, then Williams advises you to be ‘extremely wary of anyone asking you to pay money to secure a job’.
The same goes for companies requesting sensitive information too soon, such as passport details, bank account information or social security numbers.
Williams explains: “Genuine employers will also need some of this information eventually, of course, but be very cautious about providing it before you've verified the employer and the offer.”
The recruitment process doesn’t make sense
Real companies will have a procedure in how they hire new staff members so be wary of any firm offering you a role without a formal interview, contract or ‘clear information about the employer’.
Williams adds: “Be particularly cautious if someone contacts you unexpectedly and immediately wants to move the conversation to WhatsApp or another messaging platform.
“AI can produce polished emails, convincing company branding and even realistic-looking recruiter profiles. But look carefully at email addresses, website URLs and company information. A slightly misspelled domain name or an email address that doesn't match the company's official website should ring alarm bells.”
If in doubt, trust your gut.