How to Check a Job Posting Before You Apply

1. Find the role on the employer’s official site

Search for the company independently and navigate to its careers page yourself. Compare the job title, location, responsibilities, and job ID with the listing you received. A missing match is a reason to investigate, not automatic proof of fraud.

2. Check who is contacting you

Review the sender’s full email domain and verify the recruiter through the employer’s official website or switchboard. A convincing name or profile picture is not enough: real people’s identities can be impersonated.

3. Watch for requests involving money or sensitive data

Do not pay to get a job, deposit a check and send money back, or buy gift cards or cryptocurrency at an employer’s request. Treat requests for bank details or identity documents unusually early in the process with care, and verify the reason independently.

4. Check the details and timing

Look for inconsistent company names, vague duties, unusually high pay for little work, pressure to act immediately, and an application link that leads somewhere unrelated. An old posting or missing detail can have innocent explanations, so confirm before deciding.

5. Review available evidence—not just a verdict

Job Reality checks available public job records, employer-site references, posting-age information, explicit closed or expired signals, and prior observations of the same posting when the source provides enough information. Coverage varies. It does not detect every scam or guarantee a vacancy is still open.

Check a job posting with Job Reality →

For additional guidance, see the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s job scam advice.