Why it’s worth checking first

A job ad that sounds a little too good is often the first step of a scam. Fake jobs are built to look normal right up to the moment they ask for money or your personal details. And plenty of real-looking postings are for jobs that were never really open.

The checker gives you two separate answers: is it a scam, and is it a real job that’s actually open. Every warning sign points to the exact words that raised it, so you can judge for yourself.

What it looks for

Scams and ghost jobs are different problems, so the checker answers them separately.

• Scam signs: being asked to pay for equipment, training or a background check; a check you are told to deposit and pass on; interviews by text or chat only; requests for bank details or ID before a written offer; pay in crypto or gift cards; reshipping packages; pressure to start right away.
• Signs the job is not really open: no concrete duties, “always hiring” or talent-pool wording, no team or manager, requirements that contradict each other.
• Minor issues: vague wording and missing pay. A missing salary alone doesn’t make a job fake.

The job scams that show up most

• The fake check. They send a check for “home office equipment,” you deposit it and pay their vendor, and the check bounces days later. You owe the bank the full amount.
• Pay to work. A fee for training, a starter kit or a background check. Real employers don’t charge you to get hired.
• Reshipping. You receive packages at home and send them on. The goods are usually bought with stolen cards, and your address is the one on the paperwork.
• The chat-only interview. A “hiring manager” on Telegram or WhatsApp who offers you the job after a few messages, then needs your bank details for “direct deposit.”

What it can’t do

It reads the posting. It can’t check whether a company or a recruiter is real, so do these yourself before you share anything personal:

• Find the same job on the company’s own careers page.
• Look up the recruiter on LinkedIn, and check that their email address uses the company’s domain.
• Call the company on a number from its official website, not one from the message.
• Never pay to get a job, and never share your Social Security number or bank details before a written offer.

If you think you’ve been scammed

• Stop replying, and don’t send money or deposit anything else.
• Call your bank right away if you shared account details or deposited a check.
• If you gave out your Social Security number, IdentityTheft.gov gives you a step-by-step recovery plan (US).
• Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov (US), and to the job site or app where you found it.

Using AI in your job search

The same tools that write fake postings can help you with real ones. Start with the AI job search prompt vault, then practice with AI as your interview coach.

Frequently asked questions

Is the job scam checker free?

Yes. You get three free checks a day with no sign-up. Enter your email address and you get 30 more each month, plus the HOW TO // AI newsletter once a week. There are limits because every check costs us money to run.

Can it tell me for sure that a job is fake?

No. It reads the posting for the warning signs that scams and ghost jobs share, and quotes the words that raised each one. It can't confirm whether a company or recruiter is real, so use the checks on this page before you share anything personal.

What is a ghost job?

A posting for a role that isn't really open: a talent pool, a job that's already filled or earmarked for an internal candidate, or an ad left up to make a company look busy. It isn't a scam, but applying is usually a waste of your time.

Does it open the links in a posting?

No. Paste the text of the posting itself. The checker never visits links, which keeps it safe from pages built to trick automated tools.

Do you keep what I paste?

No. The text goes to the AI model that reads it, the answer comes straight back to your screen, and we don't store or log what you paste.