Fake jobs abroad: 7 signs of a scam
Warehouse work in Poland, a factory job in Germany, berry picking in Finland. How to tell a real job offer from a scheme where you are asked to pay first.
The promise of a good job abroad is one of the most common scams. Scammers know that people are in a hurry to leave, and they use this. Below are the signs that show a fake job offer before it is too late.
1. They ask for money before the job starts
A real employer or a legal agency does not charge workers for finding them a job. If you are asked to pay for "visa processing", "insurance", "a place in the dormitory" or "a medical check" before you travel, this is the main warning sign.
2. Payment to a private person's card
Companies take payments to a company bank account and give you a receipt. A request to send money to the card of a "manager" or "coordinator" almost always means a scam.
3. The conditions are too good
High pay with no experience and no language skills, free housing, work "from day one". Compare the offer with similar jobs on large job search websites.
4. All contact is only in a messenger app
There is no website, no office, no contract, only a Telegram or WhatsApp account. Such accounts are easy to delete right after you pay.
5. They rush you to decide
"Only two places left", "pay today or you lose your place". Time pressure is used so that you have no time to check anything.
6. The company is not in official registers
Ask for the full company name and its registration number. Legal employment agencies are listed in government registers, and you can check this on official websites. Sometimes scammers use the name of a real European company: contact that company directly through its official website.
7. The contract comes as a picture, or not at all
A contract must include the company details and a signature, and you should be able to show it to a lawyer. Excuses like "you will sign it when you arrive" are a reason to be careful.
How to check a job offer in five minutes
- Search for the phone number, username and company name in our [registry](/).
- Search the company name together with the words "reviews" and "scam".
- Call the company using the number on its official website, not the number in the job ad.
- Do not pay anything before you sign a contract.
If you have already seen a job offer like this, add a report. It takes a couple of minutes and can protect other people.