Seasonal hiring can move fast—and scammers know it. Fake job postings and phony recruiters can take advantage of busy hiring seasons to steal personal information, money, or both.

Here’s how to tell a real opportunity from a seasonal scam before you hit “apply.”

🚩 Red Flags Before You Apply

A job deserves a closer look if:

• You’re hired without a real interview.
• A recruiter unexpectedly contacts you by text, DM, or messaging app.
• The pay seems unusually high for the work involved.
• You’re pressured to provide personal information immediately.
• You’re asked to pay for training, equipment, or supplies upfront.
• Someone sends you a check and tells you to send or spend part of the money.

Seasonal employers may hire quickly, but fast hiring shouldn’t mean skipping basic verification.

📱 That Random Recruiter Text? Don’t Trust It Yet.

A message like “Hi! We saw your résumé and have a flexible job opportunity for you” might seem perfectly timed when you’re looking for seasonal work. But an unexpected text doesn’t automatically mean a real recruiter is on the other end.

In an April 2026 consumer alert, the FTC warned that scammers are sending job-offer texts and sometimes impersonating recruiters from legitimate companies. After someone responds, the scam may turn into a fake-check scheme, a so-called “task scam,” or another attempt to get the job seeker to send money.

The FTC recommends independently researching the company or recruiter instead of trusting the information provided in the message.

🔎 Give the Job a 5-Minute Background Check

See an opening that looks perfect? Before submitting your information, go directly to the company’s official website and look for the same position on its careers page.

Check the recruiter’s email address, too. Look-alike domains, misspelled company names, and personal email accounts can be warning signs.

You can also search the company name plus words like “scam,” “fraud,” or “fake job” to see whether other job seekers have reported problems.

🪪 Your Personal Info Isn’t Part of the Interview

Employers eventually need certain information to set up payroll and complete tax forms—but they generally don’t need your most sensitive information at the beginning of the hiring process.

Be cautious about providing your:

• Social Security number
• Bank account or debit card information
• Online banking credentials
• Driver’s license or passport images
• Passwords or verification codes

Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’ve verified the employer and are using its legitimate, secure hiring process.

💸 Don’t Fall for the “Equipment Check”

You land a remote seasonal job. Your new “employer” sends you a check and tells you to deposit it, buy equipment, and send the remaining money somewhere else.

That’s a major red flag.

The check may appear to clear initially, but if it’s later discovered to be fraudulent, the money you sent could already be gone.

🔐 Make Your Job Search Harder to Hack

Consider using a separate email address just for applications, and use unique passwords with multi-factor authentication whenever possible.

Also review your résumé before posting it publicly. Your full home address, birth date, financial information, and other sensitive details don’t need to be included.

⚠️ Already Shared Personal Information?

Stop communicating with the suspected scammer and don’t send additional money or information. Change compromised passwords and contact your financial institution immediately if account information or money was involved.

If identity information was exposed, visit IdentityTheft.gov for steps to report identity theft and create a recovery plan.

Get the Job—Not the Scam

Seasonal work can be a great way to earn extra money, build experience, or add to your résumé. Just don’t let the excitement of a quick job offer rush you into sharing information you normally wouldn’t.

Verify first. Protect your information. Then get to work.