“Earn $1000 a month from home! No experience needed. Work just 1–3 hours a day. Apply now!”
If that job ad sounds familiar, you’re not alone. These kinds of too-good-to-be-true offers are flooding inboxes, social media feeds, and messaging apps. But behind the promise of easy money lies a dangerous scam—one that’s duping thousands of Australians and putting their finances, personal information, and even criminal records at risk.
Fake job ads, often labelled as “employment scams,” are increasingly targeting Australians who are looking for flexible, remote or part-time work. The scams lure in victims with promises of quick cash for simple online tasks like liking posts, reviewing products or entering data.
“These ads are designed to hit all your vulnerable spots,” says AFP Commander Graeme Marshall.
“They offer hope to people who are struggling, only to leave them worse off—and in some cases entangled in serious criminal activity.”
According to the AFP-led Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre (JPC3), criminal networks are increasingly using these scams to exploit financially vulnerable Australians. In January 2025 alone, Scamwatch recorded more than $4.2 million in reported losses from employment scams.
Scammers often impersonate recruiters or representatives from real companies in trusted industries—education, healthcare, real estate, entertainment—to gain a false sense of credibility. Once contact is made, victims are asked to pay fees for training, registration, or equipment. Others are tricked into sharing sensitive information such as tax file numbers, bank account details or even passport scans.
“The criminals may start by paying small amounts to build trust,” Commander Marshall explains.
“But then they ask for more money with the false promise of higher-paying tasks—money that disappears into a scammer’s pocket.”
Worse still, victims may unknowingly become accomplices in criminal schemes. Scammers often use stolen personal data to open bank accounts and launder money, which can drag innocent job seekers into police investigations and damage their credit history.
“These aren’t just financial scams—they’re identity thefts, they’re fraud networks, and they’re serious crimes.”
Authorities are urging job seekers to exercise extreme caution, especially when approached online. “No legitimate employer will ever ask you to pay to get a job,” Marshall warns.
“If the job description is vague, requires upfront payment, or promises huge returns for little work—walk away.”
“Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated,” Marshall said.
“We need to keep up. By staying alert and asking the right questions, we can protect ourselves—and each other.”
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