At Oakstone International, our recruiters operate transparently, conduct detailed qualification calls, and never charge candidate fees. Any genuine outreach from Oakstone can be verified via our official team page.

Recruitment scams are on the rise, with job seekers increasingly targeted by fake recruiters offering roles that seem too good to be true. These recruitment scams are designed to extract money, personal data, or both. According to Action Fraud and the BBC, 4,876 recruitment scam reports were made in 2024, more than double the number recorded in 2022.

In this article, we break down seven clear warning signs of a recruitment scam, how legitimate recruiters really operate, and what to do if you're approached.

What is a typical experience?

A typical recruitment scam will likely start with you receiving an unsolicited message from someone claiming to work for an established recruitment company. They aim to build trust by hoping you recognise the recruitment brand. The most common platforms we have seen scammers use are WhatsApp and Telegram.

Our recruiters sometimes reach out to prospective candidates on platforms such as LinkedIn; however, you can check whether these messages are directly from our organisation by checking our team page. If the person reaching out to you is not on our team page, they do not work for Oakstone International.

Why do these scams happen?

Recruiter scams aim to either extract money or personal data from their victims. This can happen in exchange for representation, Visas, Sponsorship, and personal data that can be obtained from Passports, existing Visas, or Sponsorship documents. Identity theft is also an implication of these scams, which is why it is essential to disengage and report these incidents as soon as possible.

7 Signs of a Recruitment Scam

The "recruiter" won't talk to you over the phone

Recruiters are salespeople and need to have phone conversations to get prospective candidates and qualify them for the roles they are working on. If a recruiter avoids a phone or Zoom conversation, this is a red flag, and you should conduct further due diligence before sharing any information with them.

The "recruiter" tries to charge you a fee.

Recruiters represent their clients and are paid by their clients to find the right people for their open roles. Real recruiters will never ask candidates to pay a fee.

The "recruiter" is offering you a Visa or Sponsorship

Visas and Sponsorships are expensive, slow, and tightly controlled, and therefore would never be offered before a candidate is qualified for a role.

In most cases, offering Visas or Sponsorship from the outset is a sign the recruiter is selling access, not opportunity, and that's rarely a foundation for a strong, long-term career move.

If the recruiter mentions visas or Sponsorship in their initial outreach messages, this is a warning sign.

The "recruiter" asks for copies of personal documents

Never send copies of your passport, existing visas or sponsorship details. If recruiters request this type of documentation, it is a sign that whoever is reaching out to you is seeking personal information that could be used for identity theft.

The only documents a recruiter will initially ask for are your CV. They represent their clients, and their clients' internal HR teams will handle details such as Visas, Sponsorships, and the right to work.

The "recruiter" is pressuring you to act quickly.

Real hiring processes do not rush candidates from the get-go. Legitimate recruiters allow time for questions, encourage due diligence and expect candidates to make informed decisions. Scammers use urgency to override rational judgment.

The "recruiter" has no detailed information about the role they are working on

Recruiters work for their clients and therefore will only approach you when they are working on a specific role. Whilst they may not have all the information about the role, they should have a good understanding of the role and the company they are representing.

The "recruiter" won't send you proof that they work for whom they say they are

If you're questioning whether a recruiter is real, they should be able to point you to their team page and showcase their profile on the website. If they can't do this, it is likely a scam.

Their email address should also be from the company, not a generic one like @gmail.com or @hotmail.com.

If you are unsure whether the message you received is genuine from a recruitment company, contact the company via its official website and request confirmation.

In the UK, report the incident to Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, online or by calling 0300 123 2040.
You can also report scam job adverts to the job board where you saw them, and the details to the non-profit organisation JobsAware.

Recruitment scams rely on urgency, secrecy, and lack of verification. If something feels off, pause, check credentials, and never share personal documents or money.

If you're ever unsure whether a recruiter claiming to represent Oakstone International is legitimate, contact us directly via our official website.

Recruitment Scam FAQs

Firstly, check their official company website team page and their personal LinkedIn page. Details should match up on both sites.
If any details don't match, or you are questioning their legitimacy, reach out directly to the recruitment company to ask for confirmation. Use their website contact form or information email address.
No, never.
- ‍In the UK, report the incident to Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, online or by calling 0300 123 2040.
- You can also report scam job adverts to the job board where you saw them, and the details to the non-profit organisation JobsAware.
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7 Signs of a Recruitment Scam: How to Spot a Fake Recruiter