While Job scams have been an emerging threat, data from the Identity Theft Resource Centre (ITRC) shows that the global rate surged by 118 per cent in 2023 from 2022. ITRC noted that scammers put phoney listings on reputable websites like LinkedIn and other job search platforms, making it tough to disentangle truth from fiction.
The report suggested that improvements in artificial intelligence and the rise of remote work are big contributors to the growth in job scams. It noted that AI allows scammers to generate job listings and recruitment messages that look more legitimate.
“AI tools help refine the ‘pitch’ to make it more believable as well as compensate for cultural and grammar differences in language usage,” according to the ITRC report.
Most times, scammers pose as recruiters or post fake job ads to get sensitive personal and financial information from job seekers, or perhaps lead to human trafficking. On the other hand, perpetrators exhibit this fraudulent activity to extort innocent job seekers during the application process.
Also Read: Azaman: Auchi-based yahoo boy arrested for allegedly laundering N450 million.
A Nigerian health worker shared his job scam tale
A Nigerian health worker, who goes by the X username @Drkachitech, shared a job scam thread on May 4, 2025, in what he described as a very sad tale.
According to him, he received an email from “FAO Nigeria” — the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (UN), with claims that his profile page qualified for an Administrative Assistant (Full-time) with a remuneration of over $3,000 per month.
“FAO Nigeria is currently recruiting for several local support positions, and your professional profile has been identified as meeting the minimum requirements for the following position: Position Title: Administrative Assistant (multiple positions) Grade Level: NO-B Reference Number: VN167462 Type of Assignment: Fixed Term,” part of the email he received reads.
As the message tone triggered a sense of urgency with sentences such as “Confirm your interest by April 16th…,” “Due to high volume of applicants…,” “Respond quickly or lose this opportunity,” it immediately hit him. With emotions of hope and desperation as a job seeker, he replied to the email with an updated copy of his CV.
Days later, the victim received a second email that reads, “Congratulations, you have been pre-selected,” with an attached Letter of Appointment and UN Staff Rules document, further making the recruitment process look real.
Next up, he was asked to submit two certificates, the BSAFE (real UN security training) and a QREDIV® Certificate (for diversity and inclusion) – which was the real job scam catch. He was asked to pay a small token of $99 for the QREDIV certificate (as it isn’t free) while FAO-Nigeria would reimburse him after the onboarding process.
As sacrificing $99 for a $3,000/month job is logically and mathematically safe, the victim wired the money through a crypto platform, as requested by his recruiters.
“I sent $99. Here’s the wallet:0xb6e284c2e8de16ae4fc832c7110df04677db146c (BEP20 address). Blockchain transactions show how they moved it around other wallets, laundering funds through thousands of micro-transactions,” he added.
Sadly, the victim only thought of taking caution after making the payment.
@Drkachitech noted that he tried verifying the said certificate, or if there was any recruitment announcement by FAO. Sadly, there was no social media presence, no mention on official FAO pages, no official UN communications asking for crypto payments, no real interviews before the appointment, and nothing like a QREDIV certificate.
“The worst part? It wasn’t just the $99. It was the psychological violation. The time, energy, excitement, and hope they stole. The days I spent STUDYING for an interview that would never happen. The betrayal of trust.”
The issue further underscores the creative nous of scammers who deploy technological tricks to lure and exploit innocent individuals. They also bank on targeted third-world countries with desperately job-hunting individuals owing to a high rate of unemployment.
FAO-Nigeria disclaimer
While @Drkachitech was lured into the job scam via an email confirmation, perpetrators have previously devised a fake job listing trend of FAO-Nigeria recruitment adverts across social media platforms.
In a disclaimer on Tuesday, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO- Nigeria) distanced itself from the claims, tagging the trends as fraudulent job advertisements to dupe innocent Nigerians. It explained that the fake job offers, sent via email and other channels, have confused job seekers.
“FAO does not solicit payments or personal information as part of its recruitment process. We strongly advise the public to avoid falling victim to these scams and to verify all job openings exclusively through FAO’s official careers portal,” it stated.
Advice to Nigerians
While the incident raises additional questions around data privacy, identity theft, heightened job scams, cybercrime, and other related activities, it again stresses the need to be cautious of job listings.
As job scams can be very hard to detect, it’s important to have some tips on identifying suspicious job listings.
- Scammers will always push you for money during the hiring process. They may send an invoice for advance payment of on-the-job equipment (like a computer ) or job training. They also promise to reimburse you, which they won’t.
- Scammers may also ask for your personal information – such as a driver’s license, NIN, voter’s card, or bank account details – upfront to fill out “employment paperwork”.
- Job scammers will promise you a great job with high remuneration and other benefits. Nevertheless, all they need is your money and your personal information.
- Scammers will never show their real identity or face during the process. They hide behind the camera.
How to protect yourself from job scams
While there’s no sure way, the following tips can place you in a more secure position from job scammers.
- When you see a job invite, independently verify the company exists and is hiring. Don’t accept a job offer until you’ve done your research.
- Be suspicious if you didn’t initiate contact with a prospective employer or recruiter. Instead, reach out to the company directly using contact information you know is legit.
- Only limited personal information is generally required during the application process, such as name, phone number, job and education history, and perhaps email and home address. Any person’s details other than this is a red flag.
- Digital-only interactions are a red flag. Also, phone calls are not a guarantee of security.
- Be wary of anything that sounds too good to be true. For instance, a job ad for 100% remote work that requires few skills and a huge salary is suspicious.
- Lastly, honest employers won’t send you an invoice or require you to buy supplies or anything else.
Amid the prevailing scarcity of jobs, it’s most important to be cautious whenever you are on job listings or offers.
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