Job & Employment Scams in Australia 2025
Australians lost $13.7 million to job scams in 2024, with 42% of consumers targeted, above the global average. Learn to spot fake job offers and protect yourself from employment fraud.
The crisis is accelerating:
January 2025 alone saw $4.2 million stolen from Australian job seekers. That's after $13.7 million was lost to over 3,000 reported job scams in 2024, representing a 150% increase from the previous year. The numbers tell a brutal story, but they don't capture the human cost: people looking for work, often under financial pressure, losing money they couldn't afford to lose.
The National Anti-Scam Centre warns that job scams are surging specifically because of rising cost of living pressures. Scammers know people are desperate for work, and they exploit that vulnerability ruthlessly. In response, the Australian government established a Job Scam Fusion Cell that ran from September 2024 to March 2025, coordinating efforts to disrupt these operations. But the scams keep evolving.
The Upfront Payment Trap
This is the most common variant. Scammers advertise what looks like a legitimate job opportunity, often on real job boards or social media platforms. You apply, maybe even have an "interview" via text or messaging app. Then comes the hook: before you can start, you need to pay for training materials, background checks, equipment, software licenses, uniforms, or registration fees.
Here's the fundamental rule:
Legitimate employers never ask candidates to pay money to get a job. Not for police checks, not for starter kits, not for anything. If someone's asking you to pay before you start working, it's a scam. No exceptions.
The "Too Good to Be True" Offers
"Work from home and earn $5,000 per week"
"Get paid to watch videos"
"Mystery shopper positions with guaranteed high income"
These ads are everywhere, and they're designed to prey on people who need money and don't have time for a lengthy job search.
The pattern is consistent:
The scammers post these fake opportunities on legitimate job boards, use professional-looking company websites (often copied from real businesses), and respond quickly to applications. The promise is always the same: easy work, high pay, minimal requirements. The reality is you'll either lose money to upfront fees or end up doing free work that never gets paid. Sometimes both.
Pyramid Schemes Dressed as Employment
Multi-level marketing schemes and pyramid scams masquerade as job opportunities. You're told you'll earn income through sales, but the real focus is recruiting others beneath you. The pitch centers on "financial freedom" and "being your own boss," but the business model depends entirely on bringing in new people rather than selling actual products.
Red flags to watch for:
Asked to Buy Inventory Upfront
Legitimate employers provide the tools you need. They don't require you to purchase stock or inventory before you can start working.
Earning More from Recruitment Than Sales
If the compensation structure rewards bringing in new people more than actually selling products, it's a pyramid scheme.
Pressure to Recruit Friends and Family
If the job interview focuses more on how much you could earn from recruiting others than on what you'd actually be selling or doing, walk away.
The Information Harvesting Game
Not every job scam is after your money directly. Some want your personal information for identity theft. The fake application asks for your driver's license number, passport details, tax file number, or bank account information before you've even had a proper interview.
When legitimate employers ask for documents:
Legitimate employers do need identification documents eventually, but only after making a job offer and only for tax and payment purposes. If someone's requesting this information during the initial application stage, they're not a real employer.
Learn more about identifying phishing attempts that use similar tactics.
What to Watch For
Unsolicited Job Offers
Job offers that arrive without you applying or being interviewed are almost always scams.
Requests for Money or Bank Details
Requests for money or bank details before you start work are guaranteed scams.
No Legitimate Online Presence
If the company has no online presence or only a basic website thrown together recently, that's a major warning sign.
Suspicious Contact Details
Free email addresses like Gmail or Hotmail, or only a mobile number instead of a business line, suggest this isn't a real company.
Unrealistically High Salary
The salary being unrealistically high for the work required is another giveaway.
Poor Grammar and Spelling
Poor grammar and spelling in professional communications indicate you're probably not dealing with a legitimate Australian business.
Pressure for Quick Decisions
Pressure to make quick decisions is a manipulation tactic. Real employers understand you need time to consider offers.
Vague Job Descriptions
Vague job descriptions with no specific duties listed mean they're keeping things vague on purpose.
Text-Only "Interviews"
If the entire "interview" happens via text message or instant messaging with no video or phone call, you're almost certainly being scammed.
How to Protect Yourself
Research Every Company Thoroughly
Google them, check LinkedIn, look for reviews from employees. Verify the company's ABN on the Australian Business Register . Search the job title and company name plus "scam" to see if others have reported it.
Never Pay Money to Secure a Job
Never pay money to secure a job or attend training. This is the clearest indicator of a scam.
Protect Personal Documents
Don't provide personal documents like your license, passport, or TFN until after you've received a formal job offer.
Verify Job Postings Independently
If you see a job posting that interests you, verify it by contacting the company directly using official contact details you find independently, not the ones in the job ad.
Be Wary of Social Media Jobs
Be especially wary of jobs found only on social media platforms. Use SafeAus to check suspicious messages, links, or contact details before responding.
Trust Your Instincts
If something feels wrong about the opportunity, there's probably a reason. Your gut feeling is often right.
If You've Been Targeted
Report it immediately to help protect others. The more reports authorities receive, the better they can disrupt these operations.
Report to Scamwatch (Always)
Report to Scamwatch regardless of whether you lost money.
Report to ReportCyber (If You Lost Money)
If you've lost money or had personal details stolen, also report to ReportCyber .
Contact IDCARE (If Identity Compromised)
If your identity information was compromised, contact IDCARE at 1800 595 160 for free identity theft support. They'll walk you through the recovery process.
Report to Job Platforms
Also report fake job listings directly to the platforms where you found them (Seek, Indeed, LinkedIn) so they can take them down and warn other job seekers.
Learn more about the complete reporting process in Australia.