How to spot a job scam in Canada
Updated
Fake job offers are one of the most common scams in Canada. They look real, often copy the names of real companies, and aim to take your money or your identity. A few rules catch almost all of them.
Real employers never ask you to pay
- No fees for training, equipment, background checks or “processing”
- No buying gift cards or crypto
- No depositing a cheque and sending part of the money back
Warning signs
- An offer without an interview, or an “interview” held only by text or chat
- Pay that is far above normal for the work
- Pressure to decide or reply right away
- A personal email address (like @gmail.com) instead of the company’s domain
- A request for your SIN, bank details or ID before you have a written offer
How to check an employer
Find the job on the company’s own careers page. Every job on Jobsy links to the employer’s own site so you can do exactly that. If the company’s official site does not list the job, contact the company using details from that site, not from the message you received.
If you think you were targeted
Stop replying, do not send money, and keep the messages. Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca) and to your local police. If you shared banking details, call your bank right away.
Common questions
When do I have to give an employer my SIN?
After you accept a job offer. Employers need it to pay you, not to consider your application.
Is a job offer by text message legitimate?
Be careful. Real employers sometimes text to schedule interviews, but an offer without a real interview is a classic scam sign.
Where do I report a job scam in Canada?
To the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and your local police.