Gen Z warned of fake job offer messages amid employment crisis

Almost half of Gen Z adults aged 18 to 24 have received messages offering jobs they never applied for, according to a survey.

Virgin Media O2, which commissioned the research, warned that recruitment scams can appear convincing.

Victims are often tricked into transferring money, paying fees, clicking links, or downloading software.

Some messages detected on O2’s network offer hundreds of pounds for an hour or so of daily work.

However, others omit the obvious red flag of an "easy cash" promise, deceptively appearing as legitimate contact from a recruitment agency.

It comes as the UK’s data watchdog is investigating a surge in complaints about spam “robo calls” where a recorded voice asks you to add them on WhatsApp.

Experts warn these calls could lead to a recruitment scam, as the automated calls typically come from a UK mobile number, with some offering part-time work or tricking people into joining WhatsApp groups.

Fears about missing employment opportunities make these messages difficult to dismiss.

Half (50%) of 18 to 24-year-olds surveyed worry about overlooking a real opportunity by ignoring unexpected messages.

Furthermore, 35 per cent would feel tempted to reply to an appealing offer even if they doubted its authenticity.

Murray Mackenzie, director of fraud prevention at Virgin Media O2, said: “Looking for work can be challenging, and an unexpected recruitment message can look like the break someone has been waiting for.

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“Scammers exploit that hope, posing as familiar companies and recruiters to persuade people to respond.”

He said scams may not always promise extraordinary salaries and some may appear to be an ordinary introduction from a recruiter.

Mr Mackenzie said: “Before responding to an unexpected job message, check the opportunity directly with the company using contact details you’ve found yourself.”

The telecoms company said it has blocked more than 1.4 billion scam messages to date, and is using AI (artificial intelligence) to flag more than 80 million nuisance calls to customers a month, before they pick up the phone.

The survey was carried out by Censuswide among 2,000 people across the UK in October.

Suspect texts can be forwarded to 7726. People should also tell their bank and the police if they believe they may have been scammed.

Virgin Media O2 is encouraging people to take five steps when receiving an unexpected recruitment message:

1. Check the source. Find the organisation’s official website independently and use its published contact details to verify the recruiter and vacancy.
2. Look beyond the brand. A familiar company name or logo does not prove a message is genuine.
3. Question the promise. High earnings for very little work or experience required should prompt extra checks.
4. Protect information. Avoid clicking links, downloading software or sending payments or sensitive details in response to an unverified approach.
5. Report suspect texts – forward them to 7726.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said the number of complaints about automated nuisance calls had almost tripled in just three months, reaching its highest level since 2021.

Andy Curry, the ICO's head of criminal investigations, said he believed the reported figures were just a small proportion of the issue.

"The sharp rise in complaints about automated calls is deeply concerning. These calls are not just a nuisance; they can cause real distress and are often designed to manipulate people into handing over personal information or money,” he said.

"The numbers we're seeing are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg. We know many people simply hang up and move on without reporting what happened.”