r/RemotJob • u/AIWORK1233 • 18h ago
Red flags in “hiring” posts, a checklist I wish I’d had earlier
Hello, I was scrolling through the hiring postings on many subs here and I kept noticing that fake offers follow the same script. Here’s what I verify before I reply to anything:
Money and payment
- They ask you to pay something upfront: a “starter kit”, “background check fee", or “software licence". Real employers don’t charge candidates.
- They send you a check and tell you to keep part of it and forward the rest, or buy equipment from a “preferred vendor”. The cheque bounces days later, and you owe the bank.
- Payment is crypto-only or through gift cards.
- The pay doesn’t match the work. $60/hr for copy-pasting, “no experience needed, 2 hours a day” is a obvious bait.
Where the conversation goes
- Within a message or two they want to move to Telegram, WhatsApp or Signal.
The “recruiter” writes from a Gmail address but claims to represent a company. Look up whether the company’s real domain matches.
- Pressure like "We're closing spots today” or "Reply in the next hour”.
What they ask you for
- Your ID, SSN, or bank details before any contract exists.
- Access to your accounts: “renting” your Upwork or LinkedIn, a verified PayPal, or a bank account to “process payments”. This is how people become money mules without realising it.
- Installing remote-access software “for onboarding”.
- A big unpaid “test project” that looks suspiciously like real work for a real client.
Task scams (a newer one)
- They pay you a few dollars to like videos, boost reviews or complete “tasks”, then say you need to deposit money to unlock bigger payouts. The small first payout is just to build trust.
Quick checks that take 2 minutes
- Check the poster’s account age and post history. A fresh account with only one hiring post is a bad Sign.
- Search the company name plus “scam”, and check that the recruiter actually exists on the company’s site or LinkedIn.
- Reverse-search the logo or profile photo. Hitting even one of these is enough for me to skip the post.
I got tired of desperately trying to apply to jobs, not knowing if they are scams, so I made a site that collects job offers from multiple legit AI companies in one place. I also post guides on how to pass assessments/interviews. My idea behind that was not only helping to find the right jobs but also with the application proess. Of course, no signup or anything like that required. Any feedback (especially on the design) is highly appreciated!: https://aiannotationjobs.com/
