Job scams

Scammers may post fake vacancies on job websites, social media or buy-and-sell platforms. The job might sound easy, flexible or well-paid, with little experience needed.

Once you apply, the scammer may quickly move the conversation to a messaging app, ask for personal documents, or offer you the job without a proper interview or hiring process.

A legitimate employer shouldn’t ask you to pay to apply for a job, secure an interview, start training, access a platform or receive equipment.

Scammers may call these payments fees, deposits, verification costs, training materials, starter kits, taxes or top-ups. They may promise the money will be refunded, or pay a small amount at first to build trust before asking for more.

Some scams are promoted as easy online work, such as liking posts, writing reviews, rating products, testing apps or completing small online tasks. They may advertise flexible hours, high returns or commission-based earnings.

These scams can start by paying a small amount to make the job feel real. You may then be asked to pay money to unlock more tasks, increase your earnings, keep access to the platform or withdraw money you’ve supposedly earned.

Scammers may pretend to work for a real recruitment agency or well-known business. They may use a company logo, create a fake profile or contact you from an email address or messaging account that looks similar to the real one.

The scammer may contact you out of the blue and offer a role you didn’t apply for, then ask you to share personal information, banking details or identity documents early in the process.

A job application can feel like a normal place to share personal details. Scammers take advantage of this by asking for documents such as your driver licence, passport, IRD number, bank account details or proof of address before you’ve confirmed the job is real.

If scammers get this information, they may use it to commit fraud or identity theft.

Some fake recruitment ads ask you to download an app or click a link as part of the application process. The app may give scammers access to your phone, personal information, passwords or banking details.

Only download apps from trusted app stores, and be cautious if a recruiter sends you a link through social media, text or a messaging app.

Some fake jobs ask you to receive money into your personal account and transfer it somewhere else. The scammer may describe this as processing payments, testing systems, helping customers, or acting as a local agent.

If you move money for someone else, you could be helping criminals move funds from illegal activity, even if you didn’t realise the job was fake.