Job Offer? Or Job Scam? New Survey Says Nearly 4 in 10 Americans Have Been Targeted by Text
If a job offer lands in your text messages, think twice before tapping “Reply.” According to a new July 2025 survey from Resume.org, 39% of Americans say they’ve received a fake job offer via text this year—and the damage is more than just annoying spam.
The survey, which polled 2,034 U.S. adults, highlights a worrying trend: 14% of recipients engaged with the scam in some way. Among Gen Z men, that jumps to 24%, and for millennial men, it rises even further to 31%.
These aren’t just phishing attempts gone unnoticed. Many resulted in real consequences—financial loss, stolen identities, and in some cases, career setbacks that could take months to recover from.
When Text-Based Recruiting Turns Risky
Job hunting has increasingly moved to the digital realm, but that convenience comes with a dark side. Scammers are now mimicking legitimate recruiters—complete with fake LinkedIn profiles, convincing company logos, and even onboarding documents—to lure victims into giving up sensitive info or cash.
Here’s what happens when people fall for these scams, according to the survey:
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48% shared personal information
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30% had money stolen from a bank account or credit card
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22% paid the scammer directly, often for fake equipment or bogus training
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29% experienced identity theft
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18% quit a real job or delayed interviews, believing the scam was legit
“There are several reasons younger people, especially young men, are more vulnerable,” said Kara Dennison, head of career advising at Resume.org. “They’re early in their careers and more used to text and DM-based communication, so a job offer via text doesn’t always raise red flags.”
It’s a perfect storm: eagerness to land a job, growing digital communication habits, and a job market where ghosting and endless application loops are the norm.
The Cost Isn’t Just Financial—It’s Emotional and Professional
Scam victims aren’t just losing money—they’re losing momentum. Nearly 1 in 5 delayed legitimate interviews or even quit a current job, believing they had landed something better.
While 80% of recipients say job scam texts have made them more cautious, most never reported them. That’s a problem for regulators and platforms alike, who rely on consumer reporting to spot trends and shut down bad actors.
These scams are also reshaping candidate behavior in subtle but serious ways:
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45% are more skeptical of any recruiter outreach
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44% take longer to verify job listings
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31% have grown hesitant to apply for remote roles
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25% now delay responses to legitimate opportunities
And all this happens in an already shaky labor market. Ghosting by employers, vague job listings, and poor communication have trained applicants to distrust even the real thing.
“People are falling for job scams because the system is broken,” says Dennison. “Scams offer what the real job market doesn’t: quick interest, easy money, and a sense of value.”
Red Flags to Watch For (Because They’re Not Always Obvious)
If you’re job hunting—especially online—here are a few scam red flags to keep in mind:
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Unsolicited texts from unknown numbers claiming to represent well-known companies
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Vague job descriptions with unrealistic pay promises
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Requests for money up front, even under the guise of equipment or training fees
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Interviews via messaging apps only, with no video or formal process
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Pressure to respond quickly or secrecy around the role
The Bigger Picture: A Broken Hiring System
Job scams are thriving not just because of digital reach, but because the legitimate hiring process is often demoralizing. Candidates are burned out from endless applications, long waits, ghosting, and unclear processes.
Scammers exploit this fatigue by offering something radically different: speed, certainty, and attention—however fake.
Platforms like Resume.org, which help millions build and submit resumes, are calling for more proactive employer accountability and public awareness campaigns. But until then, the burden is largely on job seekers to stay vigilant.
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