Job hunting can be tough. When the inbox is quiet and roles aren’t landing, a surprise message offering a job might feel like a win. But before you get too excited, take a moment, it could be a hiring scam.
We’re seeing more hiring scams pop up via text, WhatsApp, and email. They often pretend to be recruiters and can look pretty convincing, using real names, logos, and even company details.
How to Spot a Hiring Scam
Here are a few red flags to watch out for:
- Unsolicited messages offering jobs you didn’t apply for.
- The whole ‘We found your CV/profile online’… so vague.
- Links asking you to “register” or “confirm details”, don’t click!
- Requests for money or personal info upfront.
- Vague job descriptions or roles that sound too good to be true.
- Pressure to act quickly or secrecy around the hiring process.
- Email addresses that don’t match the company domain (e.g. Gmail or Yahoo instead of @companyname.
- Poor grammar or spelling in communication, especially from supposed HR reps.
Not Sure If It’s Legit?
- Pause. Don’t reply or click anything right away.
- Verify. Search for the recruiter or company on LinkedIn or Google.
- Check their LinkedIn profile. Look at:
- Is there contact information the same
- Their recommendations
- How many connections they have (a legit recruiter usually has a decent network)
- Work history and activity, which can show how long and often they use LinkedIn (Most recruiters rely on LinkedIn as a main channel to speak to candidates).
- Check the company website: Search the company on Google and check if the role is listed on their official careers page. If it is, apply directly through the company’s website to ensure your application is going through the proper channels.
- Report. Flag the message as spam or phishing. Here are the different ways to report them (email, text, phone): https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/phishing-scams
Building Trust with Candidates
At InfoSec People, trust is at the heart of everything we do. Here’s how our recruiters ensure candidates feel confident connecting with us:
- Up-to-date Profiles: Our team keeps their Premium LinkedIn profiles up to date with clear photos and company details.
- Strong Networks: Mutual connections help build credibility and show we’re part of a trusted community, alongside Featured sections with Recommendations!
- Easy Verification: All our recruiters use legitimate @infosecpeople.co.uk email addresses, so you’ll always know it’s us. You can also verify phone numbers by checking our website or asking to call our main office line.
- Respectful Messaging: We avoid sending links in first messages, starting with a friendly intro and offering to connect on LinkedIn.
- Legitimate website: We are always updating our website with articles, jobs, and team member details, so you can trust that our team are who they say they are, with up-to-date numbers and email addresses to contact.
You’re not alone in this
These scams are everywhere right now, most of us have probably seen at least one, and honestly, you can usually tell they’re scams, but sometimes we can get caught off guard (We are only human after all). So if you get one, stay sharp, trust your gut, don’t click any links, and get in touch with the legitimate company to check it’s trustworthy.
InfoSec People is a boutique cyber security and IT recruitment consultancy, built by genuine experts. We were founded with one goal in mind: to inspire people to find the careers that inspire them. With the success of companies fundamentally driven by the quality of their people, acquiring and retaining talent has never been more important. We believe that recruitment, executed effectively, elevates and enables your business to prosper.
We also understand that cyber and information security recruitment can genuinely change people’s lives, that’s why we take the duty of care to those we represent very seriously. All our actions are underpinned by our core values:
- Always do the right thing
- Be the best we can be
- Add value
We work with businesses in the cyber/tech arena, from start-ups and scale-ups to FTSE100 and central Government, many of whom are always looking for great people.
Call us directly on 01242 507100 to discuss opportunities or email info@infosecpeople.co.uk.