Quick summary
At Indeed, our mission is to help people find real jobs safely. We do this by blocking harmful content and giving you tools to recognize and avoid scams. In this guide, we’ll share what to do and what to avoid when searching for a job.
What you should do when searching for a job
Check the company’s email address.
Most companies use an email address that ends in their official website (like @company.com). Look out for email addresses with misspelled words, extra letters, or “spoofed” company names (like “info_@company.net” instead of “info@company.com”).
Be careful if someone contacts you from a free email address like Gmail or Yahoo.
Compare the job offer to your application.
Don’t fall for “bait-and-switch” scams. If someone offers you a job, check that it’s the same one you applied for.
Be careful with jobs that sound too good to be true.
If the job pays well, offers great perks, and lets you work from home, make sure it’s real. Ask if the job is full-time and if the company has a real office.
Always have an in-person or video interview.
Real employers want to talk to you before hiring you. Be careful if someone offers a job without an interview, especially if they only talk to you through chat apps like Google Hangouts.
Report suspicious messages to Indeed.
Report messages that contain inappropriate, misleading, or alarming content.
What you should NOT do when job searching
Don’t pay for a job.
You should never have to send money to apply for a job on Indeed. Charging fees is often a sign of a scam.
Don’t perform financial transactions.
Never agree to send or receive money for an employer. This includes wire transfers or cashing cheques. It’s a common scam.
Don’t accept a job that involves opening several accounts on Indeed or on other sites.
Unless you work in hiring or staffing, don’t open accounts or post ads for a company you don’t know. These are likely scammers, and you may be unintentionally breaking local laws.
Don’t accept money before doing any work.
Scammers may send you money and ask you to send some back. This is a trick that can lead to legal problems.
Next steps
What you can do
- Report fake job posts or suspicious messages.
- Review your options if you think you’ve been scammed.
Learn more
Here are some additional resources to help you stay safe: