Job scams are growing and getting tougher to spot: ‘That’s the reality of this hell job market’

Americans are seeing more employment scams than ever as job seekers, facing a tough job market, report a bombardment of messages from swindlers try to lure them into giving sensitive information. Experts say the technology behind these scams has only gotten better over time, allowing fraudsters to easily impersonate employers and send out huge floods of direct messages and emails to job seekers. Reports of employment scams doubled in 2025 from the year before, according to a recent study from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). And gen Z applicants looking to jumpstart their careers have in particular been hit hard: about 32% of gen-Zers report have been a victim of a job scam, compared with 15% of gen-Xers. “It’s one thing to say ‘don’t open attachments’ and ‘that email is dangerous’, but if I think this email might be my shot at getting a job, it’s a different risk,” said Josephine Wolff, a cybersecurity policy professor at Tufts University. “Unemployed job seekers are in a very vulnerable position and susceptible to this type of manipulation.” Last month, Sally got an intriguing interview request while job-hunting online from a Minneapolis cafe. “We are delighted to inform you that your certifications closely align with several current opportunities,” the email promised. …