Recruiting scams aren’t new, but they are becoming significantly more sophisticated. Scammers have moved beyond basic phishing emails. Today, job seekers are receiving polished messages on LinkedIn from fake recruiter profiles, being contacted by imposters using real company logos, and are even being targeted by AI generated phone calls.
While some of the most dramatic scams are impersonating government agencies, staffing and recruiting firms are increasingly being affected as well; impacting candidates, hiring teams, and recruiting firms. The goal of these scams is often the same, to trick applicants into sharing sensitive information or clicking malicious links to install harmful software.
These are some of the common red flags to spot in recruiting scams:
- Outreach from a “recruiter” via LinkedIn or text that is offering a remote job, with minimal screening and unusually high pay.
- Any requests for sensitive personal information, such as your Social Security number, direct deposit information, or even payments to “secure” equipment or interview slots.
- Communication that happens solely through messaging apps or using email addresses that do not match the company’s domain.
- Tip: All legitimate emails will match the company’s domain. For example, [email protected] comes from employees affiliated with www.looprecruiting.com. Examples of a fake email address could look like [email protected] or [email protected].
These scams are successful because they mimic legitimate recruiter outreach and exploit urgency and trust.
Our Take:
We believe the first line of defense is awareness combined with transparency. Here’s what Loop will never do:
- Ask for any sensitive personal information during any stage of the hiring process (Social Security numbers, banking details, etc).
- Use free email services to contact you (Gmail, Yahoo, Apple Mail, AOL). All official communication will come from @looprecruiting.com.
- Conduct interviews solely through text or any messaging platform.
- Pressure you to respond quickly or create a false sense of urgency.
Here’s how you can identify a legitimate Loop recruiter or team member contacting you:
- All communication will come from an official @looprecruiting.com email address or phone number listed on our website.
- You can always speak to a member of our team by phone, video call, or in person at one of our offices, never exclusively over message.
- Our job postings are only listed on trusted platforms and on our website.
Scammers are not just targeting candidates, they are targeting the entire hiring ecosystem. As technology evolves, so do their tactics, which makes trust and transparency more critical than ever. At Loop, we believe great hiring is built on relationships. That means protecting our candidates and clients with the same care and integrity we bring to every search. We will continue to educate, stay vigilant, and lead by example to help ensure that the recruiting process remains safe, transparent, and human.