Job fraud is now said to be the fastest growing type of fraud in the United States, as scammers take advantage of the pressures of a tough US job market.
These scammers prey on vulnerable job seekers in states experiencing increased job insecurity. Florida is one of the states at risk.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports fraud for the first half of 2025, revealing the most commonly reported scams.
Job fraud ranks as the fourth most common type of fraud in the United States. The second most common scam is online shopping.
Other most common scams in the United States include identity theft, online shopping and negative reviews, internet services, business and employment opportunities, and investment-related scams.
Scammer scams account for the majority of fraud nationwide, but investment scams are the ones that cause the greatest financial loss. The allure of a seemingly “too good to be true” opportunity clouds critical judgment and ultimately exposes victims to devastating losses. Recruitment scams work similarly, with victims often being promised high payouts for simple tasks.
The age group most commonly deceived was Americans 60 and older.
Balazs Faluvegi, senior brokerage analyst and foreign exchange expert at BrokerChooser, said employment fraud has increased by 118% in recent years as a slowdown in the job market and economic uncertainty have made workers more vulnerable.
This surge is also being driven by the increasing sophistication of fraudsters, who are using AI, advanced algorithms, and even deepfake technology to create more convincing schemes. In fact, most job searches are now conducted online, making it easy for scammers to pose as recruiters or companies and trick applicants into handing over personal information or even money. The latter is a red flag.
“No one should be asked to pay money or provide sensitive information during a job interview. Even detailed personal information is only requested by a legitimate employer after formal employment,” Falbezi said.
