Jobseekers warned about serious WhatsApp recruitment scam

The Employment and Recruitment Federation (ERF) is warning jobseekers about a serious recruitment scam currently circulating in Ireland, in which fraudsters impersonate legitimate recruitment agencies and use their branding and logos to trick people out of money.

In the reported cases, individuals are contacted out of the blue on WhatsApp by someone claiming to represent a known recruitment agency.

They are offered what appears to be easy, flexible work-from-home roles with daily pay rates typically quoted between €170 and €250, along with “free training” and minimal entry requirements.

The tasks are usually described in vague terms such as product boosting, market research or reviewing items for well-known retailers.

Victims are then directed to register on bogus websites and complete simple initial tasks.

Very quickly, they are asked to pay a small amount, often around €10, supposedly to unlock higher-paying tasks, validate their account or reach a minimum funding threshold.

These demands escalate into hundreds or even thousands of euros before the scammers cut contact and disappear with the funds.

ERF Executive Board member and spokesperson on this issue, Mike McDonagh, said that the use of real company names and logos makes this scam particularly dangerous.

“Scams like this are not just an attack on vulnerable jobseekers, they are an attack on the reputation of our profession.

“Fraudsters are stealing the names, logos and credibility of genuine recruitment firms to give themselves cover, and people are understandably confused and distressed when they realise they have been exploited.

“No reputable recruitment agency in Ireland will ever ask a candidate for money to access work, training or job opportunities. If you are asked to pay, it is a scam.”

The ERF is advising jobseekers to be especially alert to the following warning signs.

• Firstly, unsolicited contact on WhatsApp, Telegram or similar apps offering easy remote work that you have not applied for.
• Secondly, promises of unusually high daily income for very simple online tasks, with no proper interview process or verification of your skills and experience.
• Thirdly, being directed to unfamiliar websites to register and being pressured to act quickly or complete tasks immediately.
• Finally, any request for payment, no matter how small, to access work, training, account activation or to unlock the next level of tasks. Legitimate recruitment agencies in Ireland are paid by employers, not by candidates.

Mike McDonagh added, “If something feels even slightly off, stop immediately.

“Do not send money, do not share your bank details or ID documents, and independently verify who you are dealing with.

“That means going to the agency’s official website, finding a published phone number or email address and checking the approach with them directly.

“A real firm will be very clear very quickly if a fraudster is misusing their name.”

The ERF is encouraging any individual who believes they have been targeted or defrauded in this way to report the matter to An Garda Síochána.

Scammers are using organisations that discover their name or branding are also encouraged to report it and to consult guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre on responding to online fraud.