Job Adverts & Scams: How to Spot Red Flags Early (and What to Do Next)

By Carmen Neagu, 12 November 2025

With vacancies down and cost of living up, many jobseekers are widening the net, looking for additional work — and that’s exactly when risky adverts slip through. Fraud overall is rising in the UK: more than 2 million cases were recorded in the first half of 2025 (up 17% year on year) and £629m was stolen — most scams now start online.

Recruitment scams have surged too. Action Fraud data shows job and recruitment fraud reports more than doubled between 2022 and 2024, as criminals post fictitious roles to harvest fees or personal data.

This guide shows what compliant adverts look like, the red flags to avoid, and what to do if you think you’ve been scammed.

The basics: what UK job adverts must (and must not) do

There are clear standards in the UK. Adverts must follow the Equality Act 2010, Employment Rights Act, and National Minimum Wage Regulations, and they’re policed by the Advertising Standards Authority, so the following must apply:

  • No unlawful discrimination. You can’t exclude by gender, age, race, disability, etc., unless there’s a genuine occupational requirement (e.g. same-sex personal care in regulated settings; age where insurance or legal rules genuinely apply).
  • Pay must be legal. From April 2025, the statutory National Living Wage for ages 21+ is £12.21 per hour — adverts below this are unlawful.
  • Clarity & honesty. Role title, location, contract type, and realistic pay info should be clear; exaggerated claims (“guaranteed promotion”, “earn £5k/week”) can be unlawful and are removable by ASA.

The modern scam patterns to watch for

Scammers have shifted tactics — often contacting candidates via WhatsApp, SMS or social media with “easy” WFH work or “task” based work. These job and task scams have rocketed this year. ASA has been investigating TikTok related employment fraud and has found numerous people have been scammed, with one of them even sending fraudsters, who he got in touch with from a TikTok advert, nearly £20,000!

Another very common tactic is for fraudsters to impersonate well known employers or recruitment agencies and ask applicants to apply via WhatsApp. Once you apply for the vacancy, you might be asked for your personal details like NI, bank details or address, which are then used for identity fraud, or you might be asked to pay for training, background checks and equipment to start your new job.

Quick checks before you apply

  • Verify the employer. Website, Companies House footprint, LinkedIn presence. (Thin or brand-new footprint means caution.)
  • Sense-check pay & promises. Compare with market rates; avoid “guaranteed” earnings or crypto-only payouts. Broad fraud losses are rising, with AI-boosted scam content and deepfakes making ads look credible — don’t rely on polish alone.
  • Keep comms on-platform until basics are verified; never share NI number, passport or bank details pre-offer.

If you think you’ve found a scam advert you can report it to the ASA (quick online form).

If you’ve already engaged or paid, do these immediately:

  • Stop contact with the “recruiter” and keep evidence (emails, numbers, payment receipts, job links).
  • Contact your bank to attempt a chargeback or recall; tell them it’s fraud.
  • Report to Action Fraud or the Police and get a reference.
  • Secure your accounts (new passwords, enable 2FA) and monitor credit if you shared personal details.

A tighter job market makes it tempting to overlook warning signs — that’s exactly when scammers win. Use the checks above, stick to the legal baselines, and trust your instincts. If anything feels off, pause and verify.

If you’d like a second pair of eyes on an advert before you apply — or want help validating an offer — you can always reach me via www.peoplepotentialsuccess.com. I’m happy to review and support.