Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a consumer alert to warn residents about job recruitment scams. These scams involve deceitful individuals posing as employers, recruiters, or job placement agencies. Victims are often lured with promises of high-paying jobs, flexible working conditions, or minimal qualifications. Scammers aim to extract money or personal information, often using various communication methods including text messages, phone calls, and online job postings.

Data from the Federal Trade Commission indicates that job and fake employment agency scams led to a significant increase in consumer losses, reaching $501 million in 2024 alone. Attorney General Bonta emphasized the severity of these scams, stating, "As job recruiting scams become more popular, I urge Californians to exercise caution and be wary of offers that sound too good to be true."

The office of the Attorney General encourages individuals to recognize potential red flags. These warnings include demands for money upfront, requests to make purchases or disclose financial information, and offers of easy money. Other signs include the lack of a physical office location for the company or pressure to respond urgently.

Job recruitment scams can also involve the recruitment of "money mules"—individuals unknowingly participating in criminal activities by transferring money or packages. Bonta's office highlights that engaging in such activities could lead to legal consequences.

To protect against job scams, Californians are advised not to click on unfamiliar links, verify company legitimacy through independent research, report scams to authorities like the FBI and FTC, and delete suspicious messages.