This first-person account is based on a conversation with Daniel Harnack, a data analytics expert. Approximately one month ago, I narrowly avoided falling victim to an elaborate AI scam. The fraudster appropriated a recruiter’s LinkedIn image, linked it to her genuine profile, and fabricated an email address to send me a job posting generated with AI assistance.
The position was meticulously tailored to my professional background and appeared to be an ideal opportunity, with compensation double the standard rate for such a role. All the scammer required was my résumé to forward to the hiring manager.
However, when they suggested I consult with a “career advisor” to refine my résumé instead of simply submitting it and applying through their careers portal, it became clear to me that this was undoubtedly a scam designed to extract payment.
This serves as a reminder that AI is making these highly personalized scams increasingly easier to execute.
The conventional warning signs were absent
What made this scam so surprising was its level of personalization, customization, and realism.
The red flags I’m accustomed to — vague promises, fictitious names, fake companies, and implausible job titles — had all been addressed or concealed. Without careful attention, it’s easy to become ensnared in such a scam.
The perpetrator used an actual recruiter’s name, organization, and LinkedIn profile. They compiled a job description that aligned with my experience and appeared legitimate, and responded to my inquiries without spelling errors or grammatical mistakes.
Job seekers inadvertently make themselves targets of such scams
I genuinely believe that the current approach job seekers take to present themselves — indicating openness to work, applying to numerous positions, and publicly sharing the challenges of job searching — exposes us to these scammers who target vulnerable and eager individuals seeking employment.
The unfortunate reality is that I don’t believe there’s an effective way to avoid this in today’s job market. The fact that the job market requires us to apply for numerous roles before finding one that suits us means our information is likely available for scammers to exploit.
What you can do to avoid being scammed in the job market
Since there’s no foolproof prevention method, the best course of action is to remain vigilant and scrutinize individuals who contact you.
The core of any scam is the scammer’s desire to obtain either your money or your information (to exploit for financial gain). The most important thing we can do is never send banking information or payment to these individuals.
No recruiter should request payment to secure you a job. Recruiters should be compensated by organizations to fill positions, not by job seekers for the opportunity to be considered. Services exist to review your résumé and assist with application drafting, but these services should be transparent that they’re providing résumé review, not the promise of a dream job.
My professional background has familiarized me with the types of tools these scammers are utilizing
My experience leading data analysts and scientists helped me identify the scam relatively quickly.
I contacted the actual person through both LinkedIn and email to their work address, but received no response. I interpreted this as confirmation that the scammer and the real person were definitely not the same.
Do you have a job-related scam you fell for or avoided that you’d like to share? Email this editor, Manseen Logan, at mlogan@businessinsider.com.