Credentara
Safety Library

How to tell if a job offer is a scam

Updated 22 October 2026

Fake job offers often target students and new arrivals looking for part-time or sponsored work. Most follow the same patterns. Here are the warning signs to look for, the details that are usually normal, and what to do if you're unsure.

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Warning signs

  1. 1. You're asked to pay before you start

    Fees for training, equipment, visa sponsorship, background checks or "processing" are a classic sign. Genuine employers don't charge you to be hired.

  2. 2. A cheque arrives to buy equipment

    You're sent a cheque or transfer, asked to buy equipment from a named supplier, and return the difference. The payment later bounces and the money you sent is gone.

  3. 3. The pay doesn't match the work

    High pay for simple tasks, "liking" videos, reviewing products, or vague "data entry" — especially if you're promised earnings per task through an app or website.

  4. 4. Hired with no real interview

    An offer after a short chat on WhatsApp, Telegram or text, with no video or in-person interview and no one you can verify at the company.

  5. 5. Passport or bank details requested too early

    Employers need right-to-work checks, but they usually happen after a real offer and through official processes. Be wary of requests for ID scans, bank logins or card numbers at the first contact.

  6. 6. Contact details that don't match the company

    A free email address (Gmail, Outlook) or a lookalike domain instead of the company's own website. Check the domain carefully, letter by letter.

  7. 7. Pressure to act fast

    "Accept today or lose the role", requests for secrecy, or messages discouraging you from talking to anyone else before you agree.

Details that are usually normal

These on their own are not signs of a scam:

  • A legal company name that differs from the trading brand you know
  • A signing date a few days after the contract date
  • E-signature audit details (name, timestamp, time zone) beside a signature
  • Right-to-work checks after an offer, done through official channels

How to check an offer yourself

  • Find the company's official website yourself (not from the message) and contact them through it.
  • Check the company on its national register, such as Companies House in the UK.
  • Look up the email, phone number or website in Credentara search for community reports and domain checks.
  • Ask your university careers service — they can often confirm whether an employer is known.

If you've already paid or shared ID

  • Contact your bank straight away and stop any further payments.
  • Report it to your national fraud service (in the UK, Action Fraud).
  • If you shared passport or visa details, tell your university's international student team.
  • Report the scam on Credentara to warn other students.