Fake job ads are soaring: here’s how you can spot a scam

If you’re job hunting at the moment, be wary of ‘advanced fee’ job scams that promise high salaries, but before you get there, there’s a catch.

Lloyds Banking Group is warning job seekers about a fast-growing scam that has surged by 237% since the start of the year and could end up costing you thousands.

What are ‘advanced fee’ job scams?

These scams target job seekers. They often promise high-paying, flexible jobs, sometimes involving simple online tasks like liking TikTok videos or reviewing hotels.

But before you can get started, you're asked to pay upfront fees, maybe for training, a background check, or other ‘required’ costs. Once you’ve paid, the job disappears and so does the scammer.

How these scams trick you

Scammers go to extreme lengths to make their job offers look real. You might experience:

• a fake interview process
• a convincing contract
• a fake recruiter impersonating a real company
• group chats on WhatsApp or fake screenshots of ‘payments’

It’s all designed to make you believe you're dealing with a legitimate employer.

An alarming rise

Analysis of relevant scams reported by Lloyds Banking Group customers, including customers of Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland between January and June 2025 found:

• cases are up 237% this year
• 53% of scams begin on social media
• the average loss is £1,420
• 7% of victims lost over £5,000
• more than half of victims (53%) are aged 18–34

How you can stay safe

Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, shares tips to help you avoid falling for the advanced payment scam:

• Be sceptical of ‘too good to be true’ job offers, especially ones on social media.
• Never pay money to get a job, no real employer will ask you for fees, nor would they ask you use your own bank account to transfer their money. “Do not do it under any circumstances,” says Ziegler.

• Research the recruiter or company yourself, don’t rely on the information they send you.
• Avoid jobs that involve group chats or strange app invites.
• Avoid opportunities where you are added to unknown apps or group chats that claim to be part of the process.

Think you’ve been scammed? Here’s what you can do

Don’t feel embarrassed if you’ve been scammed, as they’re designed to trick anyone. Taking action can help others avoid the same fate.

• You can report the scam to Citizens Advice and they’ll pass information onto Trading Standards who will decide whether or not to investigate.  

• It’s also a good idea to report scams to Action Fraud on their website or by calling 0300 123 2040.  

• If you spot an online scam advert, you can report it to the Advertising Standards Authority. 

Job scams are getting smarter, but so can you. Learn more about how to spot and stop online scams in our guide on how to outsmart online scammers.