Recruiter catfishing seems to be the latest online scam, impacting recruiters and job seekers alike. Catfishing is when a person takes information and photos that belong to someone else and uses those details to create a new identity. For recruiters specifically, it’s becoming more frequent, and harder to detect as AI tools allow better-quality fakes at scale. If you’re a recruiter, here are some things to know:
- It’s happening, and you may not be aware of it. Just this week, I was alerted that one of our members was being catfished, and the member had no idea. And that’s only the most recent example.
- Recruiter catfishing uses your name, image, business name and location, information from your website, LinkedIn, and other places … usually with a plausible-sounding, but not-quite-right Gmail address.
- Candidates may suddenly appear extremely skittish about your normal outreach, wanting verification that you are really who you say you are before they will engage in any conversation.
- Candidates are being presented with phony job opportunities from companies that may or may not be your actual clients, and are then tricked into sharing bank details, sensitive private information such as a Social Security number, and even payments all while the scammer pretends to be you.
What Can You Do?
- As soon as you are aware of the catfishing attempt, report the bogus email account to the provider (typically Google) – they won’t likely take action, but it’s the first step you can take to document the scam.
- Add a banner to your website, email signature, LinkedIn profile, and all other public accounts that you are aware of the scam and that job seekers should not exercise caution.
- Add your name to Stacy Donovan Zapar’s growing Catfish List and share it widely across social media. Give her a follow on LinkedIn for more great tips about fraud!
- If you are NOT using a domain-branded email address, like yourname@yourcompanyname.com – get one immediately. DO NOT use Gmail, Yahoo, or other free accounts for your business activity – this legitimizes bad actors and makes it harder for candidates to tell you apart from the bad actors.
- File a complaint with the FBI IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) or the FTC for international fraud.
- Consider filing a complaint with your state’s attorney general or department of labor to document what has happened.
- Document everything.
Recruiter catfishing isn’t going away, and the scammers behind it are only getting better at what they do. Your name and reputation are among your most valuable assets, so protect them the way you’d protect any part of your business. Stay alert, secure your communications with a domain-branded email, and act the moment something feels off. Report it, document it, and warn the people in your network. Every step you take makes it harder for bad actors to hide behind your identity and easier for candidates to trust the real you. Vigilance is the best defense, so don’t wait until you’re the next target.