Job scams have become increasingly sophisticated, and protecting jobseekers is a core priority for WhatJobs. We operate a combined system of human review, automated detection, and community reporting to ensure our platform remains as safe and trustworthy as possible.
This guide explains how to identify suspicious job postings, how to report them, and what happens behind the scenes when a listing is flagged.
How to Spot a Fraudulent Job Listing
Most fraudulent or misleading listings share common characteristics. If you notice any of the following, exercise caution:
- Unusually high salaries for entry-level or generic roles
- Requests for upfront payment, training fees, or equipment costs
- Personal email domains instead of company domains
- Poor spelling or grammar, suggesting automated or low-effort posting
- Vague job descriptions with little detail about responsibilities
- Urgency tactics, such as “apply immediately” or “limited slots”
- Unverifiable companies, no online presence, or mismatched details
If anything feels inconsistent or too good to be true, assume caution and report the listing.
How to Report a Suspicious Job on WhatJobs
We encourage users to report any job that appears misleading, suspicious, or potentially fraudulent. Every report is reviewed manually by our customer service team.
You can report a job quickly by selecting the thumbs-down icon beneath the job description. Once clicked, you will be presented with a feedback form containing several options, including “Suspicious / Looks like a scam.”
Select this option, complete the verification step, and submit your feedback.
What Happens After You Submit a Report
Every scam or suspicious listing report is treated with urgency. Our internal workflow ensures rapid action:
Immediate Review
Your submission is sent directly to our customer service and safety teams. We investigate the job and the advertiser’s behaviour, including posting patterns, content similarity, and technical indicators.
Trust is Your Best Recruitment Asset
Candidates are learning to spot fakes—which means they are looking for credibility. Prove you are the real deal by posting on a platform that prioritizes transparency and verified listings.
Post a Verified Job →Listing Removal
If a job is confirmed to be fraudulent or harmful, it is removed from the platform immediately.
Advertiser Ban
We maintain a zero-tolerance policy. Any advertiser found posting fraudulent content is permanently blocked from using WhatJobs again.
Reporting to National Authorities
Where applicable, we report the advertiser’s details to the relevant cybercrime organisations. Examples include:
- IC3 – Internet Crime Complaint Center (USA)
- Action Fraud (UK)
- Europol Internet Crime Unit (EU)
Our team ensures cases are escalated to the correct authority depending on the advertiser’s location.
How WhatJobs Uses Automation to Detect Fraud — Introducing WhatBot
Alongside manual review, we deploy an internal automation system known as WhatBot.
WhatBot continuously monitors our platform and flags suspicious patterns, such as:
- Duplicate job listings
- Keyword combinations associated with scams
- Incorrect job title formatting
- Low-quality, incomplete, or scraped descriptions
- Abnormally high posting volume from individual advertisers
When WhatBot raises an alert, our moderation team reviews the case, removes misleading content, and takes enforcement action where necessary.
Our Zero-Tolerance Policy Against Scam Activity
Fraud undermines the trust we work hard to build. For that reason, WhatJobs enforces strict safety measures:
- Permanent bans for advertisers posting deceptive content
- Mandatory reporting to the appropriate crime authority
- Continuous platform monitoring
- Manual review of user reports
- Ongoing refinement of fraud-detection algorithms
Our goal is to make job searching safer, faster, and more reliable across all markets.
Safety Checklist for Jobseekers
Before applying to any job, consider the following:
- Does the company have a verifiable website and online presence?
- Is the salary reasonable for the role and experience level?
- Are you being asked for personal financial information?
- Does the job description feel generic or incomplete?
- Are contact details legitimate and professional?
If something feels off, trust your instinct and report it.
If You’re Unsure, Contact Us Anytime
If you encounter a role that feels suspicious, or if you simply want reassurance before applying, our support team is available to help.
Your feedback helps us maintain a safer platform for everyone.
You can reach us directly here: whatjobs.com/contact
