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A signed offer letter, logo, or corporate-looking email does not prove that a job or recruiter is real. If a job offer seems fake, stop before paying, depositing a check, or sharing sensitive details. Verify the vacancy through contact information you find independently on the employer’s official website, then take recovery steps based on what you already shared or sent.
How to check whether the offer is real
Do not validate the offer using only the phone number, email address, website link, or other contact details in the message. Find the employer’s official website yourself, look for its careers page or main contact information, and ask whether the specific vacancy and recruiter are genuine. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises: “Contact the company using a phone number or website you know to be legitimate — not one you got from the ‘recruiter.’” FTC guidance on spotting job scams.
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You can also search the company or recruiter’s name with terms such as “scam,” “review,” or “complaint,” as the FTC suggests. A lack of complaints is not proof that the offer is legitimate. An email address using a corporate domain is not conclusive either: independent confirmation of the actual opening is the stronger check. FTC guidance on job scammers.
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- They want money to get you started. The FTC says honest employers do not ask applicants to pay to get a job. Requests for payment for equipment or training—especially through cash or payment apps—can be part of a scam. FTC guidance on spotting job scams.
- They ask for sensitive information unusually early. Be cautious if someone seeks your Social Security number, driver’s-license details, or bank-account information before a genuine interview and hiring process. Do not use a link or contact channel provided by the recruiter to confirm the request. FTC guidance on job scammers.
- They send a check and ask you to move money or buy things. A check can appear in your account before it is confirmed genuine. If it later bounces, you may have to repay the money you sent or spent. FTC advice on job scams.
- The polished letter is doing the convincing. A signature, company logo, and formal wording can all appear in a fake recruitment process. They are not substitutes for verifying the specific opening with the employer through an independently found channel.
What to do next, based on what happened
If you have not acted on the offer
- Pause. Do not pay, deposit a check, or provide sensitive information while the offer is unverified.
- Find the employer’s official careers page or main contact details independently, then ask whether the role and recruiter are genuine.
- If you received an unexpected text, do not reply or click its links. You can report a suspected job scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. FTC advice on job scams and fake checks.
If you sent money or deposited a check
- Contact the bank, card issuer, payment app, or transfer company promptly, using its official contact channel. Ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed. The options depend on the payment method and timing; recovery is not guaranteed. FTC advice on job scams and fake checks.
- If you deposited a check and sent money onward, tell your bank that the check may be fraudulent. Do not send more money or spend funds from the check while its status is uncertain; an apparent account credit does not prove it is genuine. FTC advice on job scams.
- Report the incident to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reporting documents the scam, but does not guarantee a refund or a particular investigation outcome.
If you shared identity or financial information
For a shared Social Security number or other identity details, use IdentityTheft.gov’s recovery steps. They include creating a recovery plan, checking credit reports, and considering a fraud alert or credit freeze. If you shared bank-account or other financial-account details, contact the affected institution directly through its official channel. IdentityTheft.gov recovery steps.
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How common is the financial harm?
In an April 2023 article, the FTC reported that people who reported a job scam in 2022 had a median loss of $2,000; the median loss reported across all fraud types in 2022 was $650. These are historical figures for reported cases, not a current estimate or a prediction of what any one person lost. FTC, “You got the job!”
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What this offer does—and does not—establish
The fact that a signed offer letter exists does not establish that the advertised job existed, that the sender represented the named employer, or that a particular company committed fraud. The FTC’s guidance describes recurring recruitment-scam tactics; without details about how this offer arrived, what happened during hiring, and what the sender requested, the individual offer cannot be verified from the letter alone.
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This guidance is for readers in the United States, where the FTC and IdentityTheft.gov resources apply. If you are elsewhere, contact your local consumer-protection and identity-theft agencies.
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- STRUCTURED & ORGANIZED - This 185 page journal allows you to write down information at your own pace in a structured way. Comes with over 90 pages of guided & reflective prompts to help guide you in your first days, weeks and months in your new role as well as 70+ blank pages for additional notes! Extra features include an area to build your own glossary of your Company's Terminology & Acronyms, and a colored page edge index which highlights the different sections of your notebook.
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