Job offer scams (likely more believable than this one) have exploded in the last few years, according to data from the Federal Trade Commission:

• In the first half of 2025, reports of online job scams jumped by 19% compared to the same period last year, costing hopeful job-seekers almost $300 million.
• Text scams have grown especially quickly in the last five years, with 20,673 reports last year compared with just 4,872 reports in 2020.

How do they work? You’ve probably received an unsolicited text from an unknown number—or from an email address that is just slightly off—with an “exciting” opportunity. Sometimes, scammers will pose as recruiters or post fake job offers on legit job sites like ZipRecruiter or LinkedIn, trying to get you to click on links that they promise lead to video interviews, but actually install malicious spyware on your device (or get you to reveal your Social Security number or bank info). One writer followed through on a scam job and worked for weeks without pay.

Big picture: While these kinds of scams exist in any kind of economy, they’re doubly pernicious in a weak labor market where so many Americans are desperately applying for work. Last month was the worst October for layoffs since 2003.—MM

This report was originally published by Morning Brew.