How to stay safe in your job search: Protecting US and UK jobseekers
Reports of recruitment scams in the UK have more than doubled in the last two years. In the UK, Action Fraud reported a doubling of complaints in the year leading up to May 2025, in one case, seven individuals in Hertfordshire lost a total of £200,000 after being targeted via WhatsApp or text and asked to download bogus task apps—some lost as much as £70,000 each.
In the US job scams are one of the fastest-growing fraud types, with losses skyrocketing from $90 million in 2020 to over $501 million in 2024. According to the Better Business Bureau, Americans are losing $2 billion annually to job recruitment scams, with a staggering 250% year-on-year surge in scam incidents.
Scammers are getting increasingly sophisticated, imitating recruitment processes to prey on jobseekers across both the UK and U.S. Here’s how to spot them early — and stay safe.
Common scam tactics
- Job offers that seem too good to be true — high pay, minimal effort.
- Requests for money (for training, visa applications, or admin) at any hiring stage.
- Use of email which isn’t an official domain (e.g., Gmail, Hotmail); genuine recruiters will use official domains.
- Unusual requests for personal details or direct app downloads.
- Unsolicited WhatsApp, email or text contact and the communication feels rushed, unprofessional, or pressuring.
- Vague, evasive job descriptions and vague responses when questioned about the role.
- Hiring decisions made without interviews.
- Unexpected or suspicious attachments.
How to protect yourself
- Confirm domains: Only trust emails from official domains (e.g. @ic-resources.com).
- Verify recruiters via company websites and pages like ours here.
- Never pay for a job opportunity; legitimate agencies are compensated by employers.
- Limit personal information – never provide your personal information like banking or login details.
- Vet the contact on LinkedIn: A credible recruiter should have a robust profile and clear professional connections.
- Trust your instincts: Pause if something feels off and confirm through the recruiter’s official channels.
If you suspect a scam
Firstly, contact the legitimate recruiter or agency directly to confirm any communication.
In the UK – Report via Action Fraud and forward scam texts to 7726 or phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk
In the US – Alert the FTC and/or file a complaint with IC3.
Final thoughts
Recruitment scams are a growing concern in both the UK and U.S. but with awareness and due diligence, you can protect yourself confidently and effectively.
If you’re ever uncertain whether a message from IC Resources is genuine, feel free to reach out directly at enquiries@ic-resources.com, dataprotection@ic-resources.com or call us on +44 (0)118 988 1150.
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