FutureRoute

Job Scam Check

Is This Job Real? Check The Advert Before You Reply

A fake job can look ordinary. Learn the warning signs, then paste the advert or company name into FutureRoute to have it checked, with the reasons shown so you can judge it yourself.

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Six Warning Signs In A Job Advert

One sign does not prove a scam, but each is a reason to slow down before you send your details to anyone.

  • You have to pay first: fees for training, DBS checks or visas before you start.
  • The pay looks too good: high pay for little work, or for no experience at all.
  • The employer leaves no trace: no real website, no company record, nobody you can find.
  • The advert stays vague: no clear duties, location or employer.
  • You are told to act now: pressure to decide, reply or pay today.
  • Contact stays off the record: only messaging apps or a personal email address.

Agencies Can’t Charge You For Finding You Work

In the UK, recruitment agencies can’t charge you a fee for finding you work, and extras such as training can’t be a condition of getting it. Being asked for money before you have met anyone is one of the clearest warning signs.

Read about agency fees on GOV.UK

How FutureRoute Checks A Job

FutureRoute looks for warning signs and shows you what it found. It doesn’t ask you to take its word for it.

  • Checks every job in your search results for known scam patterns.
  • Lets you paste any advert or company name to check it yourself.
  • Keeps a rejected job on screen with the reason it was flagged, so you can see why.

What To Do Before You Reply

A few minutes now can save you money and your personal details.

  1. Search for the company on Companies House.
  2. Contact the employer through its own website, not the details in the message.
  3. Send no money, ID or bank details until you are sure.
  4. If a text offers a job you never applied for, don’t reply and don’t tap anything. Forward it to 7726.

If You Think You’ve Been Scammed

If you paid anything, call your bank straight away. You can report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

Go to Report Fraud

No. A check looks for warning signs and explains what it found, but no check can guarantee a job is genuine. Use it alongside your own checks.

No. Searches and checks are paid from a top-up, starting at £8, with no subscription. Weekly job alerts are free.

Alert jobs get a basic filter. You can run the full check on any job you’re interested in.

It tells you which warning signs it found in an advert and why they matter. The decision is yours, and if you think something is wrong you can report it to Report Fraud.

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