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Key takeaways
- A request to pay for a job, visa sponsorship, an LMIA or 'processing' is the clearest warning sign of a job scam.
- Verify employers, recruiters and immigration advisers on official registers, using contact details you find yourself.
- If you paid, contact your bank or payment provider right away, then report it: ReportFraud.ftc.gov in the US, Report Fraud in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Police Scotland, or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
- In the UK, Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud as the national reporting service.
A message arrives offering a job overseas: good salary, visa included, start soon. It feels like the break you've been working toward. That's exactly why job scams targeting migrants work, and why a few minutes of checking can save you thousands and protect your identity.
This guide shows you how to spot fake job offers abroad, verify employers and recruiters, and what to do if you've already paid. Official guidance is described as of September 2026.
How fake job offers abroad work
Most job scams follow the same arc. First comes an unsolicited offer or a too-easy interview. Then comes the "good news": you've got the job, but you need to pay for a visa, a certificate of sponsorship, training, insurance or a flight. After the first payment, there's always another fee.
Some scams want your identity rather than cash. They ask for passport scans, bank details or login codes "for onboarding" and use them to open accounts or launder money in your name.
The UK government has warned that fake job offer letters can look genuine and use official-sounding language. The US Federal Trade Commission puts it bluntly: honest employers, including the federal government, will never ask you to pay to get a job.
Red flags of job scams
Watch for these warning signs, drawn from FTC and Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre guidance:
- You're asked to pay for a visa, sponsorship, an LMIA, training, equipment, a "refundable deposit" or "unlock fees."
- You got an offer for a job you never applied for.
- The interview is text-only on WhatsApp or Telegram, or there's no real interview at all.
- The recruiter uses a free webmail address instead of a company domain.
- Pay is high for very little work.
- You're sent a check to deposit and asked to send part of the money back.
- Someone guarantees a visa. No employer or agent can guarantee a government decision.
- You're pushed to act fast or keep it secret.
One red flag doesn't always prove fraud, but a request for money should end the conversation until you've verified everything. Two or more signs together are a strong reason to walk away.
Common job scam types and what to do
Scams change their story often, but the patterns repeat. Match what you're seeing to the closest row below.
| Scam type | What it looks like | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Fake sponsorship offer | "You're hired. Pay for your certificate of sponsorship or LMIA to secure the visa." | Refuse. Check the employer on the UK sponsor register or Job Bank, and contact the company through its own website |
| Ghost consultant | An unlicensed "agent" charges for guaranteed visas or job placements | Check official adviser registers. Don't hand over your passport or pay cash |
| Fake check job | You receive a check and are told to forward part of it for "equipment" | Don't deposit it. Real employers don't ask you to send money back |
| Task or crypto job | You earn "commissions" on an app, then must deposit money to withdraw | Stop paying. The CAFC says you often can't withdraw the balance you see |
| Identity harvesting | Passport, bank and login details requested before any verified offer | Share ID only after verifying the employer, and never share passwords or one-time codes |
| Money mule "payment agent" | You receive and forward payments for a "company" | Stop immediately. You may be helping launder stolen money |
How to verify an employer or recruiter
Checking takes less time than you'd think. Work through these steps before you send money or documents.
- Find the company yourself. Search for its official website and call the number listed there, not the one in the email.
- Confirm the job exists on the company's own careers page.
- Check sponsorship registers. In the UK, search the register of licensed sponsors. In Canada, Job Bank's temporary foreign worker search shows employers that have requested or received an LMIA.
- Check recruiter licensing. British Columbia and Ontario both publish searchable lists of licensed recruiters. In the UK, the GLAA keeps a public register of licensed labor providers for the sectors it covers.
- Check immigration advisers. In Canada, paid representatives must be members in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, a Canadian law society, or the Chambre des notaires du Québec. In the UK, advisers must be registered with the Immigration Advice Authority or belong to an approved professional body, such as a law society.
- Pay official fees only on official websites. The UK government says it doesn't ask for visa payments by international money transfer.
Say you're a nurse in Manila and a "UK care agency" offers you a job, then asks for £2,000 to process your certificate of sponsorship. You search the sponsor register and the agency isn't there. The website domain was registered last month. Even if the agency were listed, a sponsor asking you to pay for your certificate would be breaking the rules. That's two strong signs in five minutes. Our guide to nursing jobs abroad with visa sponsorship explains how legitimate nurse recruitment works.
What to do if you already paid
Act quickly. The sooner you move, the better your chances, though recovery is never guaranteed.
- Stop all contact and don't send more money, even if they promise a refund after "one last fee."
- Call your bank or payment provider using the number on its website or your card and ask to reverse the payment. In the UK, you can also call 159 to reach your bank.
- Change passwords and turn on two-factor authentication if you shared login details.
- Protect your identity. In the US, the FTC says to report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov for a free recovery plan and consider a free credit freeze with Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. If you shared passport details, tell the authority that issued your passport.
- Save everything: messages, receipts, websites and phone numbers.
- Report it using the options below, even if you lost nothing.
If you still plan to move, use regulated routes for money too. Our guide to comparing money transfer costs explains how to send money through established providers.
How to report job scams in the US, UK and Canada
Report even if you didn't lose money. Your report can help police link cases and warn others.
- United States: Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and to your state attorney general.
- England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Report to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud in late 2025, and GOV.UK directs visa and immigration scam reports there.
- Scotland: Call Police Scotland on 101, or 999 if a crime is happening now.
- Canada: Contact your local police, then report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca or 1-888-495-8501. Complaints about a licensed consultant go to the CICC.
For a complex case, such as a visa application filed with fake documents in your name, get advice from a licensed immigration lawyer or regulated adviser.
Common mistakes
- Using the phone number or link in the offer to "verify" it.
- Paying a small first fee to see what happens. It's rarely the last.
- Sending passport scans too early.
- Staying quiet out of embarrassment. Scammers are professionals, and reports help stop them.
- Trusting a real company name. Scammers often impersonate genuine employers.
Your next steps
Before you reply to any overseas offer, verify the employer through its own website and an official register. Refuse any request to pay for a job or visa. If something already went wrong, call your bank today and file a report with your country's fraud service.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a job offer abroad is fake?
Be suspicious if you're asked to pay any fee, got an offer without a real interview, or were contacted from a free webmail address. Verify the employer on official registers and through its own website before sharing documents or money.
Is it normal to pay for visa sponsorship?
No. UK sponsors can lose their licence for charging you certificate of sponsorship costs, Canadian employers can't make you pay for an LMIA, and US employers can't shift H-1B petition expenses to you.
Where do I report a job scam in the UK?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, report it to Report Fraud, the service that replaced Action Fraud. In Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101.
Can I get my money back after a job scam?
Sometimes, if you act quickly. Contact your bank or payment provider right away and ask them to reverse the payment, then report the scam. There's no guarantee, and money sent by wire transfer, gift card or crypto is especially hard to recover.
How do I check if an immigration consultant is legitimate?
In Canada, paid representatives must be CICC members or members of a Canadian law society or the Chambre des notaires du Québec. In the UK, advisers must be registered with the Immigration Advice Authority or belong to an approved professional body.