That job offer text is probably a scam
Scammers send text messages posing as recruiters and offer fake jobs to steal your money. They use urgency and legitimacy cues to pressure you into paying upfront fees or revealing personal information.
How it works
You receive a text message from someone claiming to be a recruiter or hiring manager offering you a job. The offer sounds appealing and may reference your resume or a job site you visited. They ask you to pay a fee for training, materials, or background checks, or they ask for personal details like your Social Security number and bank account to set up direct deposit.
Red flags to watch for
- Unsolicited text offering a job you didn't apply for
- Request for payment upfront before work begins
- Pressure to respond quickly or opportunity expires
- Poor grammar or spelling in the message
- Phone number or sender name that doesn't match a real company
- Request for Social Security number or banking details before any real job offer
What to do
Do not reply to the text or click any links. Do not pay any money or share personal information. Hang up and contact the company directly using the phone number or website on their official job listings page. Report the scam text to your mobile carrier and to reportfraud.ftc.gov.
If this reached you
Source: FTC . Scam Sentinel summarizes official guidance in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.