Treat any offer that asks you to pay, rushes you, or skips a real interview as a likely scam. Verify the company on its own website, check that the recruiter's email uses the company's domain, confirm the role on the official careers page, and check visa steps on government sites. Real employers do not charge candidates for jobs, visas or processing.
What people tell me
I received a job offer from a company abroad after a short chat on WhatsApp. The salary is very good, they want me to start soon, and they have asked me to pay a fee for visa processing and a medical test through their agent. It feels too good to be true but I do not want to lose a real chance. How can I check whether a job offer from abroad is real?
A composite of the messages behind this question, with personal details left out.
Key takeaways
- Any request for money (visa fees, training, equipment, processing) is the biggest red flag.
- Check the email domain, the company website and the official careers page yourself.
- A real hire normally involves real interviews with people whose profiles you can verify.
- Check visa steps on the destination country's official government or embassy pages.
- In Pakistan, overseas employment promoters must be licensed; check the licence before dealing with any agent.
The fastest check: are they asking for money?
Real employers pay to hire you. They do not ask you to pay for the job, the visa, "processing", a training course, equipment, or a medical through their agent. Scams often ask for a small amount first, then more. If money is requested before you have a verified contract, stop.
The US Federal Trade Commission's guides on job scams and fake check scams describe these patterns well, and they apply everywhere.
Red flags
| Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Offer after a chat with no real interview | Real hiring involves assessing you |
| Recruiter uses Gmail, Outlook or WhatsApp only | Real recruiters normally use the company's email domain |
| Pressure to decide or pay today | Urgency stops you from checking |
| Salary far above the market for your level | Bait |
| Asks for passport, bank or ID details early | Identity theft risk |
| Sends a cheque or equipment money for you to forward | A classic fake check scam |
| Offer letter with spelling errors or odd formatting | Often copied templates |
How to verify, step by step
- Find the company yourself. Search for its official website, do not use links from the message. Check that the address, products and people exist.
- Check the role on the official careers page. If the job is not listed and nobody at the company can confirm it, be very careful.
- Check the recruiter. Their email should use the company domain, and they should have a real LinkedIn profile with a history at that company. Message the company through its official contact page and ask whether the person works there.
- Check the visa process on official pages. Each country explains its work visa steps on government or embassy websites. A contract and visa process that does not match those pages is a warning.
- Read the contract. It should name the employer, the job, salary, hours and location. Never sign anything that makes you pay to leave or to work.
- Ask someone who has done it. A person working in that country in tech can usually tell in minutes.
For agents and recruiters
If you use an agent, check their licence. In Pakistan, overseas employment promoters are licensed through the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment; check the licence on its official site. Gulf countries have their own official systems for contracts and work permits. Never hand your passport to an unverified agent.
Remote job scams
Fake remote jobs often ask you to buy equipment, do paid "training", or receive and forward money. Real remote employers send contracts, use company email and pay you, not the other way round. How do I find a remote job that pays in dollars? covers where real remote roles are.
If you already paid or shared documents
- Stop all payments and do not send more money, even if they promise a refund.
- Tell your bank immediately and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reported.
- Report it to the platform where you were contacted, and to the relevant authorities in your country.
- Watch for identity misuse if you shared ID, passport or bank details.
- Warn others in your university or community groups, without sharing anyone's private details.
Being scammed is not a sign that you are foolish. These schemes are built to exploit hope and urgency. Acting quickly limits the damage.
If you are still stuck
The work abroad roadmap and remote jobs roadmap cover safe ways to apply. Going to the Gulf? Read Do Gulf companies prefer hiring nationals over foreigners? Going to Germany? Read Can I go to Germany for work without IELTS? If you want a second pair of eyes on a specific offer, join Sefism and, as a member, book a 1:1 session.
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