California's Attorney General, Rob Bonta, has issued a consumer alert for state residents about the rising threat of job recruitment scams. These scams involve fraudulent schemes where individuals posing as employers, recruiters, or job placement agencies deceive job seekers into divulging personal information or providing money. Bonta stated, "As job recruiting scams become more popular, I urge Californians to exercise caution and be wary of offers that sound too good to be true."
Job recruitment scams often promise lucrative positions that require minimal qualifications or offer opportunities to work from home. Some scams trick individuals into inadvertently aiding criminal activities. These scams can appear via texts, calls, or online job postings. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) identifies employment scams as one of the leading types of fraud, with losses reaching $501 million in 2024, nearly three times the amount lost in 2020.
Indicators of scams include demands for money or personal financial details and requests to purchase items like gift cards on behalf of others. Scammers may push for quick responses or present jobs without verifying that a company's physical office exists. Genuine government job listings, for instance, are accessible freely on sites such as jobs.ca.gov, usajobs.gov, or about.usps.com/careers.
Additionally, these fraudulent schemes sometimes involve money mules — people unknowingly recruited to participate in criminal activities. Bonta warned that "if someone you don’t know sends you money and asks you to forward or transfer the money, you could be fueling fraud."
To avoid falling victim to such scams, Attorney General Bonta advises against clicking on suspicious links. Individuals should verify the legitimacy of a company by visiting its official website or calling using verified contact details. Bonta also recommends researching company names for reviews, complaints, or scam alerts and suggests filing a complaint with the FBI, FTC, or his office if a scam is suspected. Lastly, any scam communications should be deleted immediately.