Can you recognize dangerous AI job scams? As an editor and writer on the hunt for remote work, I’ve picked up on a few emerging trends.
Back in the day before AI (you know… about this time last year), fake job descriptions were fairly easy to spot. You’d notice spelling errors, clunky sentences, strange fonts — sometimes, you’d wonder if scammers were purposely trying to expose themselves.
But now, AI is helping fake companies create convincing, alluring job postings that even the most savvy job seekers are falling for. Unfortunately, websites like LinkedIn and Indeed aren’t spotting these scammers fast enough, so when you send out your resume, your personal information could be at risk.
Here are 10 Tips for Identifying AI Job Scams:
1. Familiarize yourself with AI. Even though AI is more advanced than ever, there are still dead giveaways when something isn’t written by a real person. If you haven’t already, go to ChatGPT (or one of the many other AI generators) and enter your own prompts to get an idea of what AI-generated language sounds like.
2. Look up the company before you apply. Scammers use AI to generate hundreds of convincing company names. All it takes is a quick Google search to see if a hiring company actually exists. Check the company’s website and LinkedIn profile. How long ago was the company established? Are there any employees listed? Are there any job openings other than the one you’re applying for? If not, these are major red flags. If you’re still not sure, try adding the word “scam” to your search and see if anyone has recently reported the company for fraudulent activity.
3. Look up the job recruiter. If you’re applying on LinkedIn, you have the advantage of looking up the person who posted the job. How long have they been a member of LinkedIn? Does their profile seem like it could’ve easily been written by AI? What does their work history look like? If the recruiter has only been active since the job was posted, that's a huge warning sign.
4. Beware of Easy Apply. This LinkedIn feature is an AI scammer’s dream come true. As tempting as it is to hit “Easy Apply” on every potential job you see, consider that you’re instantly sharing your phone number, resume, and other personal information with a company that won’t provide an official website where you can apply for the job and (most likely) won’t ask you for a cover letter or an interview. Speaking of…
5. Go for jobs asking for cover letters and interviews. AI job scammers don’t want your cover letter or to chat directly — they only want your personal information. A request for a cover letter or interview indicates that the job you’re applying for is legitimate.
6. Notice similar job titles posted at similar times. Did you notice that, about 3 hours ago, 10 different job postings with the title “Freelance Writer” all appeared at the same time? Even though each post claims to be from a different company, and even though the job descriptions differ from one another, there’s a good chance they were all written by AI. Are the application questions exactly the same? This is a big indication that the same AI scammer is at work. This leads us to…
7. Notice similar application questions. Does each job you’re applying for ask the same exact questions in the application process? Do any of these questions encourage you to send information to a personal email address rather than an official work email? Again, don’t fall for it — this is a common tactic of AI job scammers. If someone truly wants additional information from you, they can request so directly on the job posting. There’s no need to send cover letters or work samples to an alternative email. However, use your best judgment — some legitimate job posters don’t realize the full potential of websites like Indeed or LinkedIn, and they may still request that your information be sent to a specific email address. To be safe, you can typically look up a real email address and find it listed on a company’s official website.
8. Notice similar job descriptions. Scammers will use the same AI program and the same prompt over and over to produce multiple job descriptions. Stay alert and notice if job descriptions use the same exact format. Oftentimes, this will consist of a broad opening paragraph or two, vague descriptions of job duties that are fairly easy for anyone to complete, two sets of bulleted lists summarizing the job description, and no specific indication of salary, benefits, or expected work hours. Or, the alternative…
9. Be aware of outrageous salaries, hours, or benefits. An entry-level job that starts at $150k/year? Full-time benefits at only 20 hours/week? As tempting as these offers may be, don’t fall for them — this is another way for scammers to lure desperate job seekers into sharing personal information, and AI can make these false benefits all the more convincing.
10. Utilize AI detection tools. If you’re truly committed to eradicating the AI scammers among us, consider using AI detection tools. These will scan the web page and identify whether a job description was entirely or partially written by AI. However, the use of AI doesn’t automatically indicate that the job posting is fake — it just means you should be cautious and use the tips above before hitting “Apply.”
When it comes to job searching, AI can be a powerful tool. Remember to stay vigilant, keep your personal information safe, and trust your gut when red flags appear.
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