Fake job offers are becoming increasingly convincing. Scammers may use the logos of well-known companies, create websites, conduct online interviews, and present themselves as genuine recruiters.
Their goal may be not only to steal money but also to obtain a candidate’s personal information.
Warning signs of a suspicious vacancy
Be careful when:
- the salary is unusually high despite there being no experience or qualification requirements;
- you are pressured to make an immediate decision;
- the recruiter refuses a phone or video call;
- all communication takes place only through Telegram, WhatsApp, or Signal;
- the full legal name of the company is not provided;
- you are asked to pay for training, paperwork, or a “work package”;
- you are asked to install unfamiliar software;
- you receive a link to a suspicious website;
- you are asked for a passport scan, banking details, or a PESEL number before signing a contract.
Polish employment services also identify pressure, anonymous communication, unrealistic earnings, and meetings in unofficial locations as common risk indicators.
Check the company’s registration
Ask the employer for:
- the company’s full legal name;
- its NIP tax identification number;
- its REGON statistical number;
- the office address;
- the official website;
- the recruiter’s name and position.
A Polish company or sole trader can be checked in the official CEIDG or KRS registers. If recruitment is handled by an employment agency, verify that it is listed in KRAZ, the National Register of Employment Agencies.
A company’s presence in an official register does not by itself prove that the person contacting you is a genuine representative. Scammers may use the details of a real business.
Verify the recruiter
Look for the recruiter on the company’s official website or on a professional social network.
Check:
- how long the profile has existed;
- whether it lists employment at the company;
- whether there are professional contacts and activity;
- whether the email address uses the company’s official domain;
- whether the vacancy appears on the employer’s official website.
If you are unsure, call the number listed on the company’s official website and ask whether the recruiter is genuinely conducting the hiring process.
Do not pay to participate in recruitment
A candidate should not transfer money to a recruiter for:
- taking part in an interview;
- reserving a job;
- receiving an application form;
- opening a bank account;
- obtaining a supposedly mandatory certificate;
- delivery of work equipment.
Polish employment services recommend that candidates do not send document scans or banking details at an early stage of recruitment and never pay simply to take part in a hiring process.
What should you do with a suspicious offer?
Stop communicating and do not open any files or links you have received.
Save:
- the vacancy text;
- the page address;
- emails;
- phone numbers;
- screenshots of the conversation;
- any payment details provided.
Report the vacancy to the platform where it was published and to the company the scammer was impersonating. Suspicious messages and links can also be reported to CERT Polska. If money or documents have been lost, contact the police and your bank.
