How to spot recruiting scams

Amidst all the technology breakthroughs from AI to chatbots, online fraud is still an unsolved problem for recruiters and job seekers. These scammers often use fake job postings, false credentials, and other tactics to trick job seekers into providing personal information or paying fees for non-existent job opportunities.

Recruiting agencies are human-powered and human-centered, and it should be easy to see and feel their "realness," like at PGAA Tax, aka Phil Guillen & Associates LLC. For example, we make human mistakes; we might abbreviate your name incorrectly on a candidate assessment or run late to your phone check-in, and while we do our best to be responsive, we will never get back to you as fast as a chatbot or a scammer eager to get something from you.

Another tell-tale sign we are the real deal: we give as much information about the job opportunity in our initial outreach as possible. Our position descriptions are chock-full of information relating to the company, insights into the tax department, details on your day-to-day workflow, and the nitty-gritty scoop on the scope of the job. We do this because we want to give you the information upfront before getting on the phone with us to discuss your interest, and we don't want to waste anyone's time with a phone call that doesn't align with you or your career. But now, with recruiting scammers, it also proves we are who we are!

So while we hope you only are reached out to by real recruiters with a real job that REALLY aligns with your skill set, here are some signs 🚩 that a recruiter might be phony:

1. They contact you out of the blue: Fraudulent recruiters may send emails or messages claiming to have found your resume and offer you a job. Legitimate recruiters typically don't reach out to candidates in this way.

2. The job seems too good to be true: Fraudulent recruiters may offer high-paying, high-status jobs that require little experience or expertise. If the job seems too good to be true, it probably is.

3. They ask for payment: Legitimate recruiters don't charge candidates for their services. If a recruiter asks you to pay for job placement or other fees upfront, it may be a sign of a scam.

4. The recruiter doesn't have a website or online presence: Legitimate recruiters typically have a professional website and a social media presence and give you a direct contact/phone number to connect with them. For an example of a real recruiting agency's online presence: check us out on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Facebook.

5. The recruiter doesn't provide clear information about the job: As we said, PGAA Tax doesn't use vague job opportunities as a strategy to connect with candidates. We always give the details you would want before exploring the opportunity further. Other legitimate recruiters should be able to provide detailed information about the job, the company, and the hiring process.

If you encounter any warning signs when working with a recruiter, proceed cautiously or break off communication if your gut tells you to. Always do your due diligence and research any recruiter or job opportunity before providing personal information. Additionally, report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities or to the platform where you found the job posting or recruiter.