The modern job search is overwhelming. Between LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, and dozens of niche boards, there are millions of new postings every week. But here's the uncomfortable truth: a significant percentage of those listings are misleading, outdated, or completely fabricated.

Fake job listings aren't just annoying — they can waste weeks of your time, expose your personal information, and erode your confidence. Understanding the warning signs is the first step to a smarter search.

1. The Salary Seems Too Good to Be True

If an entry-level customer service role is advertising $90,000 a year with no experience required, something is off. Scammers use inflated salaries to attract clicks and applications. Compare the posted salary against industry benchmarks using resources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics or Glassdoor salary data.

2. The Company Name Is Vague or Missing

Legitimate employers want you to know who they are. Listings that say "a leading tech company" or "a fast-growing startup" without ever naming the organization are often posted by lead-generation firms or outright scammers. Always verify the company exists with a quick web search before applying.

3. The Job Description Is Extremely Generic

Real job postings describe specific responsibilities, required skills, and team context. If the description reads like it could apply to any role at any company, it's likely a placeholder or bait listing designed to collect resumes.

4. They Ask for Personal Information Upfront

No legitimate employer needs your Social Security number, bank account details, or a copy of your ID before an interview. If an application form asks for sensitive financial or identity information, close the tab immediately. This is a hallmark of identity theft schemes.

5. The Posting Has Been Up for Months

While some roles are genuinely hard to fill, a listing that has been active for 90 or more days often indicates a "ghost job" — a position that was filled internally, put on hold, or never existed. Companies sometimes keep old listings live to build a talent pipeline or appear to be growing. Check the original posting date and be cautious of anything older than 60 days.

6. The Application Process Is Unusual

Be wary if a "recruiter" contacts you through a personal email address, asks you to communicate exclusively via messaging apps, or directs you to a third-party website that doesn't match the company's official domain. Legitimate hiring processes run through company career pages or established job platforms.

7. There's No Interview — Just an Offer

Receiving a job offer without a real interview is almost always a scam. Real companies invest time in evaluating candidates. If someone offers you a position after a brief chat or no conversation at all, especially if they ask you to purchase equipment or pay for training, walk away.

How True Jobs Helps

True Jobs was built to solve this exact problem. Our platform scans listings from over 20 job sources and assigns each one a Realness Score based on multiple signals: company verification, posting age, description quality, salary plausibility, and more. Instead of manually vetting every listing, you get an at-a-glance indicator of which jobs are worth your time.

Your job search is hard enough without wasting energy on fake listings. Stay vigilant, trust your instincts, and use tools that do the filtering for you.