20 Ways To Detect Scam Job Interviews

While you’re learning how to spot fake job interviews, scammers are working on new ways to entice victims. Above all, putting up fake job interviews is an appealing way for scammers to target young and gullible job seekers.

In order to protect you from unscrupulous employers, here’s compiled a complete list of ways to recognise scam job interviews. This list will disclose all of their trails and loopholes; use it to tell the difference between a legitimate and a scam invitation. To support this post, you’ll need to check this list of reported fake/scam companies and recruitment agencies.

Though most recruitment scams target entry-level candidates, this post will cover areas that will benefit mid-level and senior-level professionals. Read this to the end, and you’ll never fall victim to any fake job interview. If you are ready, let’s unveil the secret curtains of the scam lords!

(Note: If you need exceptional interview coaching services, contact us right now!)

20 Ways On How To Detect Scam Job Interviews

It might interest you to know that Job scams surged 118% in 2023, aided by AI. As a result of this rapidly increasing job scams, we have written this section to furnish you with 20 ways on How to detect scam job interview so that you won’t be among other job seekers who have fallen victim of this trick. Let’s get into it!

1. There’s No Clear Job Title

The most obvious sign of a false job interview is the lack of a defined job title. An interview invitation with no precise job title or an average job description should bother you.

Fake recruiters aim to capitalise on your ignorance or greed. Either they send you a message with no precise job title or a position that exceeds your credentials.

If the title is overly harsh or sounds too good to be true, don’t honour it.

2. Different Senders/Messages For The Same Interview

Scam recruiters leave trails when they want to conduct their activities.

Do not take the job invite seriously if;

1. You receive the invitation for the same interview from more than one email.
2. You receive the invitation more than once. (Apply discretion)
3. The interview date or location is being changed several times.

3. The Interview Is Urgent

Always be careful of an urgent invitation. No legitimate organisation will speed through the recruitment procedure.

Recruitment is a costly procedure for any firm. As a result, HR professionals will prefer to take their time and complete tasks correctly.

As a result, if you see a supposed employer providing you a day’s notice for an interview, do not take them seriously.

Furthermore, interviews that state they will cease allowing interviewers inside the location after they have the desired number of candidates are fraudulent.

4. The Stage Of The Interview

An entry-level applicant receiving a call for a senior-level position is a red flag. A mid-level professional receiving an invite for an executive position is questionable.

Receiving an invite to a second or final stage interview when you were not involved in the first round is likewise suspicious.

5. The Invitation Is Full Of Grammatical Errors

Job scammers in their haste to send their dubious emails don’t pay attention to the message they are sending.

In reality, most of the messages they send are recycled, they don’t bother reading it. For that reason, if you receive a mail for an interview that is full of grammatical errors, don’t get excited. Don’t fall victim to a fake interview offer.

6. You Didn’t Apply For The Job

A reputable company won’t ask you to attend an interview if you didn’t apply for the position.

Kindly disregard if the only thing they’re saying is that they’ve looked over your qualifications and are happy to welcome you for an interview. They are recruiters for scams.

If you are not certain that you applied for a job in the company, here’s how to confirm;

Step 1: Check Your Mail

1. Log into your email
2. Click on the search bar and type either of the following; the name of the company, the email that was used to send the interview invitation, or the position.
3. If you see any message that confirms your application, then it could be a legitimate job interview. However, if you don’t see it, it’s at best a scam employment invitation.

Step 2: Check Your Favourite Job Website

1. Log in to your favourite job search website.
2. Check your application history to know if you have made an application.
3. Some job sites may not have such an option. But, you can search the company to find out if an opening was advertised for such a company recently.

Even if you were referred to the company by someone you know, the person would have informed you.

7. The Interview Is A Secret Interview

Don’t honour any secret job invite or job application. However the scammers approach you or sugar-coat the offer, don’t believe their lies.

If it is a secret opening in Nigeria or India, don’t honour it. If it is being run on a low key by some in-house staff, RUN!

Example:

Here’s an example of such messages for a fake job application:

8. The Interview Title

This has a tight connection to the job title (similar to what we discussed in point 1). A job interview ought to be just that—a job interview. Nothing more. Make sure it’s something else and not a “Job interview” if the email’s highlight states something different than “Job Interview.”

The following are some fancy terms that will help you spot a fake job interview:

• Job briefing
• Leadership training
• Leadership interview
• Business partnership
• Business training
• Job appraisal
• Seminar presentation etc.

Example

9. The Invitation Message Is Generic

Real companies go through the time to customize your mail. That’s to say, when you get a mail with “Dear Applicant”, “Dear Candidate” instead of your name, become suspicious. Then, go ahead and dig deeper to confirm if they are real or fake.

10. Search The Internet

You can detect scam job interviews by searching the company or the opening on the World Wide Web.

Here are 3 places you can check for answers to a fake job riddle;

• Google
• Nairaland
• Social Media

Check 1: Google

Although instincts may be misleading, you have to trust them when it comes to staying ahead of employment scammers. Every time you get an invite for an interview and your instincts suspect something fishy, trust your instincts.

It is better to be double sure than sorry.

Once you type the name of the company on Google search, pay attention to the results you see. A Google search will help you clear all doubts.

Check 2: Nairaland

Nairaland is one of the most used online forums in Nigeria. Nigerians gather on Nairaland to discuss anything possible. If a company has bad comments about scamming people on Nairaland, then, don’t bother honouring their call.

11. Their Website And Social Media Pages

Go through the company pages to see who they are and what they’re about.

Online platforms reveal a lot about a company. If there is no news about any ongoing recruitment, then know that someone is trying to impersonate them.

Similarly, if you see a tonne of negative comments about the company, then you have your answer; stay clear.

To sum it up, why should you take them seriously if they don’t have any online presence? Even if they are not a tech-savvy company to own a website; a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn account will not harm.

12. They Request For Money

This is one of the surest ways to detect scam job interviews and fake recruiters. All fake job interviews have one thing in common; they are promoted to exploit innocent job seekers.

They devise dubious ways to extort money from their victims. For example, they could ask for a pre-interview fee or a post-interview fee that they would use for one unrealistic thing or the other.

13. They Hide Their Identity: How To Detect Scam Job Interviews

No serious company hides its identity from a potential employee. Even when they are using a recruitment agency, the invitation will carry the name of the recruiting agency.

But fake recruiters will prefer to hide their identity, making it difficult for you to research the company.

If they are hiding their identity, you don’t have any business with them.

14. The Company Address/ Interview Location

If the company address or interview location is in a well-known job scam address, avoid that interview like a plague. The names of fake companies/interview locations are available to you online.

Also, if the company uses a confusing venue or informal location for the interview, then you have every right to grow suspicious.

15. The Job Experience Range

How can a sane company invite you to interview for a job position that requires 1-10 years of work experience?

Unbelievable job experience range is one way to detect scam job interviews. It doesn’t just add up that a fresh graduate will be invited to interview for an executive position. Whenever you get an invite like this, it is a 100% scam.

Entry-level positions will require entry-level candidates, and mid-level positions will require mid-level professionals to fill them. In summary, beware of job interviews for positions with a wide range of prerequisite experiences.

16. The Channel Of Communication

Scrutinize the channel of communication used to send you a job interview. For instance, a legitimate company won’t send you an invite for an interview via SMS. However, they could send you an email and follow it up with a call or SMS. But sending just a call or SMS should raise your security alert.

17. The Email

It is easy to identify fake job agents via email. Most of them use their emails from free email providers like Google and Yahoo.

Serious and legitimate companies use corporate email addresses for their operations including recruitment e.g. careers@fasthire.com.ng. Therefore, when you get job placements or job interview invitations from a personal email like chisomadebayor@yahoo.com, kindly ignore it.

Note: Some HRs can send an invite using their company mail instead of the general HR email. For instance, harunaahmedhr@ivorywears.com or hrsiomaokiasi@stroutclinicals.com.

18. They Request For Guarantors

Requesting a guarantor for an interview is illegal. Companies can request for referees, but asking for a guarantor during an interview stage is out of place.

19. Poor Feedback/Enquiry Option

Most of the job scammers provide little or no option for enquiry. Firstly, they may not provide any means of reaching them.

Secondly, if they do provide, it is always not reachable, no serious company will be that careless.

Lastly, if they do pick up or respond to your call/message, it is always quick and the agent responding to you is always eager to end the conversation as if they are hiding something that they don’t want you to find out.

20. The Message Comes With a Code or Reference Number

Be sceptical of job invite messages that come with code or reference numbers

Example;

 HR=0190 or “REF=005”.

This is most time the code number of the scam recruitment agent; this helps them differentiate which of their agents invited you and which one will attend to you when you arrive.

List Of Fake Recruitment Agents In Nigeria

Here is an article that extensively explains the Fake Recruitment Agencies and Companies That Scam People In Nigeria. It is interesting to know that these agencies are not always predictable at first; they are not too suspicious but with careful closer look, you can find the loopholes.

How To Detect Fake Job Offers

Here is a list of 6 ways to detect fake job offers

1. The company has no credible online presence.
2. The recruiters request money for your employment letter.
3. Your employment letter is not authentic/personalized.
4. They claim to overlook qualifications if you pay some money.
5. The job has no specific title.
6. The requirements for the job are vague.

How To Spot Fake Job Adverts

1. The email they used for the advert is private.
2. The job requirements don’t tally with the position in question.
3. There’s no specific job position/title.
4. The experience requirement is wide apart.
5. The pay is unimaginable for the level. To confirm the salary scale for different career positions and industries, you can check mysalaryscale.
6. The company name is hidden.
7. The job application uses Google Docs.
8. The company has no online presence.
9. The company website is not secure e.g. when you visit their site, you get a notification that the site is not secure. Also, you don’t see a green padlock at the top left of the website before the site URL.

Conclusion: Detect Scam Job Interviews

It is pertinent that you guard yourself against fake job openings. Once a job opening or interview invitation is suspicious to you, do your due diligence.

You can visit this list again and take note of places where the suspicious job falls short. If you have more reasons to believe they are fake, then they are.

Also, avoid street job offers that were shared by handbills or posted on walls of buildings. They are mostly networking agents looking for downlines.

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