At the Scottish Government, we want every candidate to have a safe and positive recruitment experience. While most job opportunities advertised online are genuine, fraudsters sometimes use fake vacancies and impersonate employers to obtain personal details, financial information or obtain payment through deception.

There are simple steps you can take to protect yourself. Be wary of unexpected job offers, requests for payment, or communications asking for sensitive information before you’ve entered a formal recruitment process. If something doesn’t seem right, take time to verify the opportunity before responding.

For advice on spotting recruitment scams and understanding your rights as a job seeker, visit JobsAware, the UK’s free service for reporting and receiving support on labour market abuse and recruitment fraud.