I thought a recruiter found me a dream job. It was a scam.
A freelance workplace writer looking for a full-time role received a detailed email from someone claiming to recruit for Indeed. The sender praised the writer’s portfolio and asked for a résumé.
The supposed recruiter described a senior editorial position and shared a salary range of $125,000 to $165,000. The writer was encouraged by the offer and agreed to continue.
Days later, the sender said the hiring team viewed the writer positively but required a résumé revision before moving ahead. The recommended service charged a fee, though the sender did not specify its price.
Indeed confirmed the person had no connection to the company and that the vacancy was fabricated. The writer’s account illustrates how scammers may use convincing job details to sell paid services.
A LinkedIn survey cited in the article found recruiter impersonation and job scams are undermining trust between recruiters and candidates. Career coach and former recruiter Erica Rivera says warning signs can be difficult to recognize; the article points readers toward her guidance on spotting them.
Key points
- A fake recruiter used an invented Indeed role to gain the writer’s trust.
- The sender tried to direct the applicant to a résumé service that charged a fee.
- Indeed said the recruiter was unaffiliated and the job was not real.