How to stay safe in your job search: Protecting US and UK jobseekers

By Victoria Fellows

August 22, 2025

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.