Is HireArt a scam? Absolutely not! But we get why people ask. This blog post explores how both job seekers and employers can protect themselves from the growing wave of employment fraud.
The job market is evolving, and (unfortunately) so are employment scams.
The modern job market has never been more dynamic. As a result, it’s also never been so filled with bad actors and scammers.
The Federal Trade Commission reported that, in the first quarter of 2024, the occurrence of job scams was 4x higher than in all of 2023. Since job scams are vastly underreported (only about 4.8% of those scammed submit complaints), the numbers and associated losses are likely much higher.
Remote work, global sourcing, and digital recruiting have created incredible opportunities for both employers and candidates.
Unfortunately, those same shifts have also opened the door to con artists, and the types of scams run the gamut from being pretty obvious to
From fake job offers that steal personal information to bogus “staffing agencies” that invoice employers for candidates who don’t exist, scams are becoming smarter and harder to spot.
At HireArt, we occasionally hear from people who have seen our name in a job post and ask, “Is HireArt a scam?” That’s actually a great question — and one we welcome.
When it comes to your livelihood or your company’s brand, a healthy dose of skepticism is a good thing.
This article breaks down the most common job scams targeting both job seekers and employers — and how to verify that the opportunity, the company, or the recruiter you’re talking to is the real deal.
Job seekers are especially vulnerable because they’re often eager, hopeful, and ready to share information. Fraudsters exploit that trust by posing as employers, recruiters, or staffing platforms.
Scammers post jobs on legitimate sites or social media that mimic real companies. Unfortunately, some of the largest job boards struggle to keep up with the number of scam posts.
Once you “apply,” they immediately request personal details or onboarding forms, and use them for identity theft.
Red flag: The posting isn’t on the company’s real website, or uses a slightly misspelled domain (like gooogle.com or google.co)
This is an extra tricky scam, especially in such a tough job market. Job seekers are eager to land a job and this scam dangles a ready-made opportunity in front of them.
Here’s the thing: any legitimate job will require some kind of interview process. There should be no exchange of sensitive information unless a job seeker has gone through some kind of interview.
When it comes to many of these job scams, your gut is a good guide, too. The old adage, “If it feels too good to be true, it probably is,” rings true when it comes to potential job scams.
In this kind of scam, you’re told you need to pay for training, a background check, or special equipment before starting. The scammer vanishes once payment is made. Here’s the real deal: you should never have to “pay” in order to work.
Red flag: Real employers never ask candidates to pay to be hired.
These scams are common on social media or via SMS. These scams promise hundreds of dollars a day for simple data-entry or “AI testing” tasks. In reality, these “jobs” often involve money laundering or crypto transfers.
Red flag: The pay is wildly disproportionate to the work required.
Fraudsters use fake onboarding forms or offer letters to harvest Social Security numbers, bank details, or government identification.
These scams can be quite sophisticated. Especially when you’re a new employee being onboarded, it can be easy to let one of these slip by unnoticed.
Red flag: You’re asked for sensitive information before a formal offer or contract.
If you suspect you’re seeing a scam like this, always reach out directly to the hiring manager or HR representative you’ve been communicating with.
If you suspect a scam, report it to the FTC’s fraud division, LinkedIn’s Safety Center, or Indeed’s Trust & Safety team.
While most headlines focus on job seekers, employers are increasingly targeted, too.
Scammers are aware that HR and recruiting teams handle sensitive data, and they exploit busy hiring processes.
Fraudsters post fake job listings using your company’s name or logo, stealing candidate data or collecting “application fees.”
Red flag: Applicants start inquiring about roles your company never posted.
Scammers impersonate recruiters, claim to have placed a candidate, and send an invoice for “recruitment services.”
Red flag: The recruiter can’t provide a verifiable business license or contact references.
“Applicants” send resumes with malicious attachments or request direct access to HR systems.
Red flag: Unusual file types or links in applications.
Some scams pose as third-party agencies asking for candidate lists or payroll data for “compliance” checks.
Red flag: Any vendor requesting personal employee information outside a formal contract.
First things first: HireArt is not a scam.
We’re not mad. We get it. In fact, we’re glad that folks ask this question.
Scams have made everyone more cautious, which means legitimate companies sometimes get caught in the crossfire.
At HireArt, we actually encourage candidates and employers to verify who we are.
Here’s why confusion can arise:
It’s always smart to double-check before sharing information.
HireArt will never:
HireArt will always:
If you ever see a suspicious posting or message using our name, please forward it to support@hireart.com so we can investigate immediately.
Hiring scams erode trust, and that hurts everyone.
For job seekers, the fallout can mean stolen identities or lost savings. For employers, it can mean damaged reputation and legal exposure.
Transparency, verification, and communication are the best defense against scams. Legitimate companies welcome scrutiny. They make it easy to verify roles, talk to a real person, and confirm the process.
HireArt’s mission has always been to make contingent work more transparent, compliant, and human.
By acting as an Employer of Record, we give workers the protections and clarity they deserve. We also offer employers peace of mind that every worker in their program is vetted, verified, paid correctly, and supported.
When in doubt, take the extra steps to verify that a job or candidate is real. Here's how:
For job seekers:
For employers:
And for both sides: remember that legitimate companies like HireArt want you to ask questions. Trust is built through transparency — and that’s precisely how modern work should operate.
