Rapid response · fake recruiter text
Job Offer Text Scam: What to Do
Published by Scam Detective · Primary source dated
Use the reported pattern as a warning, not as proof about every message or page. Pause, verify independently, and avoid sharing secrets while you check.
What the source reports: The FTC says it was hearing about generic recruiter texts that claim to represent recognizable companies and ask recipients to reply “YES” or “INTERESTED.” The reported contacts can progress to fake-check requests or online tasks that require the recipient to deposit their own money.
Evidence boundary: A text message alone cannot establish whether every recruiter is genuine or fake. Independently verify the role on the employer's official careers page and contact the company using details you find yourself—not a link, number, or domain supplied by the recruiter.
Primary source: Federal Trade Commission, “That job offer text is probably a scam” (April 30, 2026). Source reviewed September 14, 2026.
Warning signs to check
- The first contact is an unexpected, generic text, WhatsApp message, or Telegram message.
- The role, hiring manager, and interview process are vague, but the pay is emphasized.
- You are asked to deposit a check and send some of the money back.
- You must pay, buy equipment through a specified seller, deposit crypto, or fund tasks before earning.
What to do now
- Do not reply just to learn more, and do not deposit a check or send money.
- Find the company's real careers page independently and confirm the exact role and recruiter there.
- If the recruiter supplied a public website, safely copy the URL and check its public signals with the free preview below.
If you already interacted
- Tell your bank immediately if you deposited a check, sent money, or shared bank details; a displayed balance does not mean a check cleared.
- Change reused passwords and secure any account for which you shared login or identity information.
- Save the message for reporting, but do not continue the conversation or follow recovery offers from strangers.
Scam Detective does not remove malware, recover funds, contact a sender, or provide emergency, legal, or bank support.
Questions people ask
Are all recruiter texts scams?
A text alone is not enough to decide. An unexpected generic approach, no verifiable role, and any request to pay or move money are serious warning signs. Verify through the employer's independently found careers page.
Can a check look cleared and still be fake?
Yes. Banks may make funds appear before discovering that a check is fraudulent. If someone asks you to deposit a check and return or forward money, stop and contact your bank directly.
Privacy and limits
Use a public website URL only. Never paste passwords, one-time codes, payment details, private invitation links, private document links, message contents, or personal information. Submitted URLs are used to produce the requested result and are not included in analytics events.
A website preview or report is a point-in-time assessment of publicly visible signals, not a guarantee that a site is safe or fraudulent. It cannot verify a person behind a message, inspect your device, or see facts that are not public. Threats and websites can change.
We do not provide continuous monitoring, real-time feeds or an API, takedown execution, fund recovery, or legal advice.