Checker

Is this interview a scam?

Real companies do use one-way video interviews. So do scammers, because a link and a recording feel official. Check the invitation against these eight red flags. Tick what is true.

You were asked to pay for equipment, software, a 'starter kit', or training, or to deposit a check and buy supplies. You were asked to scan your face, upload a government ID, or give your SSN or bank details before any real interview. The recruiter is writing from a free email address (gmail.com, outlook.com, yahoo.com), not a company domain. You were told to download an app or open a link that is not the company's own site or a known interview platform. There was urgency or pressure: a same-day offer, a deadline in hours, or 'reply now to secure the role'. The pay is unusually high for the work, or the role and company are described only in vague terms. You cannot verify the company: no real website, no LinkedIn presence, no named person behind the message. The interview link or platform name looks slightly off, misspelled, or on an odd-looking domain.

Nothing ticked yet

Work through the list above. The result updates as you go.

If anything scored high

Stop and verify before you do anything else. Find the company's real website yourself, do not use a link from the message. Confirm the recruiter exists on the company's site or LinkedIn. A legitimate employer never needs your bank details, a payment, or a face scan to interview you.

Full detail is in the guide on one-way interview scams and red flags, and you can keep the printable red-flags card handy.