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If you’re looking for work, the pressure to be “hirable” is real. Whether you were recently laid off or need a side hustle to make ends meet, that eagerness to say yes can lower your defenses, especially now that virtual interactions have replaced face-to-face accountability.

Scam artists know this and are evolving their tactics to capitalize on tougher economic conditions or the desire to work from home. Even on reputable job sites, scammers may get fake listings through the verification process. And AI and other technologies are making scams more insidious — and harder to spot.

Here are just some of the ploys to watch out for:

The reshipping (aka mule) scam

You see a listing for a quality control manager or virtual personal assistant. Once you’re hired, you’re told you’ll be receiving packages at home, repackaging the products, and sending them to a new address — sometimes overseas. What you’re really doing is moving stolen electronics or other goods. You’ll never get paid — and now you’re part of the scam. As the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) points out, “reshipping goods is never a real job.”

The “starter kit” snare

Scammers will post fake work-from-home jobs promising big bucks and flexible schedules. But in order to start, you’re asked to pay for a “starter kit,” a directory, or some form of training that turns out to be useless because there’s no job.

The interview trap

Here’s one you may not have heard about yet: Scammers can now generate professional-looking calendar invites, according to Iskander Sanchez-Rola, director of AI and innovation at Norton, the virus software company. They look like legit interview invitations, but clicking the meeting link actually redirects you to phishing sites or malware designed to gain access to your personal information or bank details, Sanchez-Rola recently told a CBS affiliate.

The screening fee scam

If you’re asked to pay a fee for recruiting or job placement services, it’s probably a scam, according to the FTC. (Usually the employer pays the fee.)

So what?

Scammers are more than willing to exploit tough times — and the virtual job market — to their advantage. And a recent survey by Norton showed 90% of U.S. adults who fell victim to a job scam lost money. This means you’ll want to be extra vigilant, even if the red flags aren’t as obvious.

Scams often involve:

•   Time pressure: If you’re told a role will go to someone else if you don't sign immediately, you’re probably getting scammed, according to the FTC.

•   No cameras: Although some legit jobs don’t conduct video interviews, be wary if a recruiter isn’t willing to be on Zoom with you or will only chat via apps like Telegram or WhatsApp, according to the job site Indeed.

•   Pay-to-play: Real employers, including the federal government, won’t ask you to pay to get a job. If you’re asked to shell out for training, certifications, or equipment upfront, walk away.

•   Fake checks: These crop up in multiple contexts, but the setup is always similar: Part of the job involves getting a check, depositing it, keeping a portion for yourself, and then wiring the rest somewhere else. But the check is bogus, so it will ultimately bounce, and you’ll be out the money you “returned.”

And it’s key to verify who you’re dealing with:

•   Use safe, reliable job boards like USAJobs.gov, or CareerOneStop, which are run by the government.

•   Always cross-reference job postings on the company’s official "Careers" webpage.

•   If you’re unsure about an invite, use tools like Norton’s free “Genie" scam detector to analyze suspicious links.

•   Never provide sensitive data like your Social Security number or bank details until you’ve been hired and have verified the employer’s identity through an independent channel.

•   Research the recruiter you’re talking to.

If you do spot a scam, do your fellow citizens a solid and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Related Reading

They Were Looking for Work — But Found a Scam Instead (NBC News)

I responded to one of those spam texts from a “recruiter”— then took the job. It got weirder than I could have imagined. (Slate)

Spotting Scams This Tax Season: The IRS Doesn’t Text People (SoFi)

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