British jobseekers are being targeted by an alarming new wave of sophisticated SMS scams offering bogus 'flexible work' opportunities, with fraudsters stealing thousands of pounds from vulnerable victims.
The cunning scheme involves criminals posing as legitimate recruitment agencies or well-known companies, sending unsolicited text messages promising lucrative remote work with minimal effort. These messages typically invite recipients to click on malicious links or contact fake recruiters through encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.
How the scam works
Once engaged, victims are persuaded to complete seemingly genuine administrative tasks such as reviewing companies or rating services. Initially, they may receive small payments to build trust—a technique known as 'seed funding'.
As the deception progresses, targets are convinced to make increasingly large upfront payments with promises of significantly higher returns. These payments are typically framed as required investments, training fees, or security deposits.
When victims attempt to withdraw their supposed earnings, they're met with demands for additional 'tax payments' or 'verification fees'. Eventually, the fraudsters disappear, leaving victims out of pocket and without any legitimate job.
Who's being targeted?
Experts note that these scams disproportionately affect students, recent graduates, and those seeking secondary income streams. The appeal of 'flexible working from home' proves particularly enticing to those struggling with cost-of-living pressures.
Action Fraud, the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, has recorded a significant increase in reports related to job and employment scams in recent months.
Protection advice from experts
Cyber security specialists urge jobseekers to exercise extreme caution with unsolicited job offers. Legitimate companies rarely approach candidates via text message without prior application.
Key warning signs include:
- Requests for upfront payments or financial investments
- Communication exclusively through encrypted messaging apps
- Vague job descriptions with exaggerated earning potential
- Poor grammar and spelling in official communications
- Pressure to act quickly on 'limited-time opportunities'
The National Cyber Security Centre recommends verifying all job offers directly through company websites using official contact details rather than those provided in suspicious messages.
Victims of job scams should report incidents to Action Fraud immediately and contact their bank if they've disclosed financial information or made payments to fraudsters.
