Job hunting in a new country can be a minefield. You're navigating unfamiliar cultural norms, unsure of the unspoken rules in the professional world, and uncertain where to find the right contacts who can open the right doors for you. To make matters worse, in the digital age, fake job ads clutter even well-established platforms like LinkedIn. Some countries, like South Africa, are even facing an epidemic of these fake 鈥済host jobs鈥� and scams. How can you avoid these traps?
Some ghost jobs are scams that can drain your savings or even get you arrested.
Some fake job ads are straight-up scams: these are the ones you should avoid at all costs! They might even swindle you out of your money rather than give you any form of employment that brings you money! Here are the red flags that a job posting could be a scam:
- Is the company asking you to pay for their products or training before you can start working? Run the other way! Legitimate jobs pay you for your time and skills; they don't require you to spend money just to get started. Any necessary training during onboarding should be provided at no cost.
- Be especially cautious of multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes, which often prey on vulnerable groups such as stay-at-home mothers, ethnic minorities, or new expats, because they assume that these groups are more naive. Cryptocurrency scams often also target expats. Check which cryptocurrency companies are recognized by the local authorities first. Some governments, such as New Zealand's, even keep .
- If a job seems too good to be true or promises fast, easy money, it's probably a scam. As a new expat, it can be hard to know what typical salaries and benefits look like for different roles. That's why it's important to do some research on local industry standards. For example, expat ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers in China usually earn between . Salaries in major Tier 1 cities like Shanghai are at the higher end. So, if a rural school offers $5,000 a month to a young expat in their twenties with little teaching experience, it should raise red flags. Talk to other expats, especially those in your field, to understand what a normal offer looks like in your host country.
- A lack of clear information about who founded a company, where it's headquartered, and the exact nature of its operations is a major red flag. In some cases, the business may not exist at all. Or worse, it could be tied to illegal activities such as sex work (depending on local laws), drug trafficking, money laundering (especially in tax havens), or even espionage.
During a job interview, if you're asked to conceal or lie about the company's name or operations, take that as your cue to walk away immediately. A legitimate company should have a functioning website, a publicly listed phone number, a physical office (in most sectors), and an official registration in the country's corporate registry. You can often verify this information by phoning the local business registrar directly.
Right now, , a young British woman is undergoing criminal investigation in Georgia for allegedly being a drug mule. If authorities determine she knowingly participated in a drug trafficking operation, even if she was unaware of the full extent, she could face life imprisonment abroad. It's important to remember that under international law, once they've been convicted in that jurisdiction.
Jobs with a hiring process that is too fast and informal should also raise concerns. If no effort is made to evaluate your qualifications or conduct an interview, it's reasonable to question the legitimacy of the offer. Furthermore, even if you are a new expat or an international student, you have the right to a proper work contract. Be wary of fellow nationals abroad who say things like, 鈥淐ome on, we don't need a contract; we're both American/South African/Indian/etc. You can trust me!鈥� Sharing a cultural background or nationality is never a valid reason to forgo your rights as a worker.
Of course, not all ghost jobs are scams that will land you in hot waters or empty your bank account. Some are simply disguised surveys. Some just to measure public interest in their brand or to survey the skills currently available in the job market. Still, it's completely understandable to want to avoid wasting time on applications that lead nowhere.
So, how can you spot these kinds of job ads? One sign is if the same company keeps reposting the exact same job every 2 to 5 months. Chances are, they're not actually hiring; they're just collecting data. While they may be saving CVs for future reference, that's little comfort if you're actively job hunting and need opportunities now.
Countries where expats have to be especially careful
The scam jobs described above are widespread in some popular expat destinations. A range of factors contribute to this problem, from poor digital regulation to high levels of poverty that create many potential scam victims. Here are some countries you should be particularly careful about if you're looking to work as an expat or even an international student.
The UK
In the UK, is particularly affected by job scams. Scammers often target international students who desperately want a job to be able to remain in the country, especially as the requirements to qualify for many available work visas (, , etc.) are getting increasingly higher. If you're considering applying for a , be extremely careful and check that any employer or agency is reputable and legally compliant. reports that fake care homes or recruitment agencies for care home workers often have red flags like 鈥渃opy-and-paste websites鈥� and 鈥渇ake-looking reviews鈥� and ask for money from applicants, which is illegal in the UK.
The UAE
Beneath the glamorous facade of this Middle Eastern expat haven lies a troubling undercurrent. The UAE's reputation as a land of quick wealth has made it a breeding ground for scam that range from cryptocurrency cons to disturbing sex trafficking networks. have surfaced of scammers, often expats themselves, luring young women from less wealthy countries to move to Dubai for ghost jobs (e.g., in sales), only to trap them into sex trafficking once they arrive. The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has stressed that any legitimate job offer in the country has to be accompanied by . If a prospective employer fails to produce that letter, run!
India
The tech job platform reports that fake job ads are so common in India that 56% of job-seekers have come across them. These scams often advertise highly sought-after positions in the government, tech, and engineering, as these jobs are hard to get in a saturated labor market. Fraudsters in India often use WhatsApp and deceptive recruitment agencies that require upfront fees, and they also often promise lucrative jobs abroad in countries like the UAE. If you're an expat in India or anywhere else, insist that all professional communication take place via email or, at worst, via Microsoft Teams or LinkedIn, never via a messaging app!
South Africa
The in South Africa in 2025 has fueled a surge in job scams. Several companies, including and the design agency , have issued warnings about fraudulent job ads being posted in their names. Standard Bank urges job seekers to carefully verify the legitimacy of any job listing by cross-checking its details. So Interactive notes that scammers often use generic Western-sounding names like 鈥淛ane Smith鈥� and typically reach out via social media platforms or LinkedIn, rather than through official company email addresses. They recommend that job seekers contact the company directly to confirm whether a job posting is genuine.
