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General guide

How to spot a fake job offer

Simple checks that protect your money and your documents before you reply to any job offer abroad.

7 stepsFree
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  1. 1Step 1

    Never pay to get a job

    A real employer does not ask you for money to give you a job. Be careful with any "recruitment fee", "placement fee", "guarantee", "medical fee" or "training fee" sent to a person.

    Checklist

    • No one asks you to pay to "secure" or "reserve" a job
    • You are not asked to send money by MoMo or Orange Money to a personal number
    • Official visa or application fees are paid only on the government website or at an official visa centre
    Realistic costs
    0 FCFA to receive a job offer
  2. 2Step 2

    Check that the employer really exists

    Find the company on your own. Do not use only the links, phone numbers or email addresses that the offer gave you.

    Checklist

    • The company has a real website with a physical address
    • The email address ends with the company name, not @gmail.com or @yahoo.com
    • You phoned the company using a number you found yourself
    Timeline
    About 15 minutes
  3. 3Step 3

    Find the same job on the official website

    A real job is normally also listed on the employer's own careers page. Compare the title, the salary and the apply link. Apply only through that official link.

    Checklist

    • The same job appears on the employer's careers page
    • The salary matches what the offer says
    • You will apply on the employer's own website, not through a stranger
  4. 4Step 4

    Watch for red flags

    Scammers copy real companies and use pressure. If you see several of these signs, stop.

    Checklist

    • A very high salary for a job with no experience or diploma needed
    • You are told to decide "today" or the offer disappears
    • Only WhatsApp or Telegram chats, with no video interview
    • They ask for your passport, bank details or MoMo PIN very early
    • They ask you to keep it secret from your family or friends
  5. 5Step 5

    Check the visa and sponsorship claims

    Ask which visa route is used and check it on the government website. For example, in the UK a sponsoring employer must be on the official list of licensed sponsors.

    Checklist

    • The visa route the employer names really exists on the government website
    • The employer is on the official sponsor list, where such a list exists
    • You understand who pays which fee, and it matches the official website
  6. 6Step 6

    Protect your documents and your identity

    Your passport, certificates and mobile-money PIN are the keys to your money and your identity.

    Checklist

    • You never share your MoMo or Orange Money PIN, with anyone
    • You send your documents only through the employer's official portal
    • You never send a photo of your bank card or your PIN
  7. 7Step 7

    Not sure? Ask us before you reply

    Send us the message you received, with screenshots, before you pay or send any document. Our team gives you a clear answer: Looks Legit, Suspicious or Scam. The "Verify an Offer" service is free and answers within 48 hours.

    Checklist

    • You kept the message and took screenshots
    • You did not pay or send any document yet
    Timeline
    We reply within 48 hours