Job scams have jumped 237% since January. Here’s how to keep yourself safe
Job hunters £5k out of pocket after falling prey to social media scam
- Lloyds Bank has reported a 237 per cent surge in "advanced fee" job scams this year, warning job hunters of significant financial losses and potential criminal records.
- Victims typically lose £1,420, with some out of pocket by over £5,000, and young job seekers aged 18 to 34 are disproportionately targeted.
- These scams often originate on social media, luring victims with fake remote work offers like liking TikTok videos, then demanding upfront payments for purported necessities such as processing or training.
- More sophisticated schemes involve fake interviews, contracts, and impersonating genuine recruitment agencies, sometimes manipulating victims into unwitting money laundering.
- Lloyds advises job seekers to be wary of any requests for payment to apply for a job and to independently research the role and company being presented.