Fraudsters are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create convincing job scams, tricking job-seekers out of money or personal information. The UK's national cybercrime reporting service, Report Fraud, received more than twice as many reports of recruitment scams in 2024 compared with 2022. Lloyds Banking Group reported a 237% rise in job scams from January to August last year, while Monzo said over 10,000 customers fell victim to such scams in 2025.
One journalist, who asked to remain anonymous, described being targeted by a scam that impersonated a headhunter. The email referenced her previous roles and expertise, and the job description seemed tailored to her CV—as if created by ChatGPT. The salary offered was significantly higher than her suggestion, a red flag she initially dismissed. The scammer later offered to connect her with a specialist to refine her CV for a fee.
Keith Rosser, chair of the not-for-profit JobsAware, said AI has made scamming easier. “You can sit nowadays anywhere in the world and run a large job scam against people in the UK,” he said. “It’s not very difficult, you’ve got a reasonable chance of success, and you’ve got a very low chance of being caught.”
Recruitment scams take various forms. “Task scams” promise easy money for simple online activities like liking videos, often targeting young people. Victims may receive small payments initially, then be asked to pay fees or unknowingly launder money. More bespoke scams, like the one the journalist faced, impersonate real recruiters and target senior professionals.
To avoid these scams, experts advise being wary of unsolicited job offers, especially those that seem too good to be true. Check the recruiter's identity through official channels, never pay for job opportunities, and trust your instincts if something feels off.
