Recruitment Fraud

Spot the scam, secure your future.

Recognize the signs and avoid online job scams.

Recruitment fraud occurs when individuals or organizations deceitfully offer fake job opportunities to unsuspecting job seekers. These scams often involve promises of lucrative positions, false work-from-home schemes, or requests for personal information or payment upfront. Perpetrators aim to exploit job seekers by extracting money or sensitive data under the guise of employment opportunities that do not exist.

Additionally, it's important to note that while UCalgary strives to maintain the integrity of its recruitment process, cybercriminals may exploit its reputation to perpetrate fraudulent schemes. Stay cautious and verify all communications to safeguard against potential fraud.

Ensuring transparency

UCalgary will never ask for payment prior to employment. The recruitment process will always entail an interview stage and never result in immediate job offers. If you encounter any communication claiming otherwise, exercise vigilance and verify its authenticity.

Hiring emails

Please note that all recruitment emails from the UCalgary will be sent directly by the hiring manager and originate from an email address ending in @ucalgary.ca.

Web Security

Please be aware that UCalgary will never include links to websites outside of the ucalgary.ca domain.

Generic Email Addresses

Pay attention to the email addresses used by the recruiter. Scams often use generic email services like Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail instead of a company domain.

Unprofessional Communication

Look out for poorly written job descriptions or emails filled with grammatical errors and typos. Legitimate job postings provide clear details about the role, responsibilities, and qualifications. Reputable companies maintain professional communication standards.

Upfront Payment and Urgency

Be wary of any job that requires you to pay money upfront for training, equipment, or any other reason. Offers that come without an interview or seem rushed are a red flag. Genuine employers take time to vet candidates and cover these types of costs.

Lack of Company Information

Verify the company's existence and legitimacy. Look for an official website, physical address, and contact information, scam listings often lack these details. Research the company on platforms like Glassdoor or Indeed to read reviews from current and former employees. Be cautious if you find numerous complaints about fraudulent activities.

Suspicious Links and Attachments

Avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These can be phishing attempts or contain malware.

Too Good to Be True

If a job offer promises exceptionally high pay for minimal work, it's likely a scam. Always compare the offered salary to industry standards. Trust your instincts. If something feels off or too good to be true, it's better to err on the side of caution and avoid proceeding.

businessman slip falling on exclamation symbol

Fraud alert!

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) issued an alert regarding a surge in job scams. Scammers are using the names of real Canadian companies to offer victims job opportunities to "boost" products, apps or videos using software created by the fraudsters.

See more information

UCalgary has limited capacity to directly address threat actors engaging in these types of malicious activities. If you are in Canada, please contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). If you are outside Canada, we recommend reaching out to your local authorities or anti-fraud center for assistance.