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Is That Job Offer Real?
How to Spot a Fake Job Scam
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With gas and groceries costing more in Alaska, you might be trying to make some extra income. Then a text arrives offering a remote job with good pay and full benefits. The timing is so perfect that you may overlook a red flag: you never applied. Before you reply, it's worth knowing what a fake job text looks like, how these scams work, and how to check whether an offer is real.
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What does a fake job text look like?
A fake job text often promises Alaskans more than it explains. You may see generous pay, flexible hours or remote work, but few details about what you would actually be doing. AARP reported on a job seeker who got a text from someone claiming to represent a major medical lab company. The data-entry job was, in her words, "really good paying, full benefits, work from home." The allure was real. The job was not.
How does a fake job text scam work?
A fake job text scam uses the promise of work to steal your money or personal information. Once you reply, the "recruiter" may interview you by text or chat app and make a quick offer. Some send a link to an application that harvests your personal information or loads malware onto your device. Others say you must buy equipment, such as a laptop, from a specific vendor and send you a check to cover it. Your bank may credit the check for a day or two. But when the check bounces, your money is gone, and so is your supposed recruiter.
Task scams take a different approach. You may be asked to rate products or “like” videos while you see your supposed earnings growing. Eventually, you’re told to deposit your own money before you can collect the fake earnings.
What are the warning signs of a job scam?
The clearest warning sign of a job scam is a job offer you never applied for. That unexpected offer often comes with a second red flag: high pay for little work. Legitimate employers also don't make you pay to get a job or to apply for one. Be careful, too, if a recruiter wants your Social Security number or bank account information right away. Other red flags include a recruiter who quickly moves the conversation to an encrypted messaging app, pressure to act fast, and awkward, error-filled writing.
How can Alaskans check whether a job offer is real?
To check whether a job offer is real, don't reply to the text or click its links. Research the employer yourself instead. Search the company's name with words like "scam," "complaint," or "fraud." Find the company's official website on your own, look for a matching job listing, and call its human resources department to confirm the recruiter works there. Before accepting any position, talk it over with someone whose judgment you trust. They may notice a warning sign you missed.
What should you do if you responded to a fake job text?
If you responded to a fake job text, stop communicating and don't send money or personal information. Call your bank or credit union using a verified number, especially if you deposited a check, sent a payment, or shared account details. If you lost money, file a police report and report the scam to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
For free support, call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360, open 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. Alaska time, Monday through Friday. Being targeted is not your fault, and you don't have to handle it alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can AARP help me figure out whether a text is a scam?
Yes. The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline, 877-908-3360, is free and open to anyone. Fraud specialists can help you report a scam, decide whether something is a scam, and get support if you or a loved one has been targeted. Alaskans can call from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. Alaska time, Monday through Friday.
How much money are Alaskans losing to scams?
Alaskans filed 3,202 cyberfraud complaints with the FBI in 2025 and reported nearly $40 million in losses, a 52% increase from the previous year, according to FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data shared by AARP Alaska. Alaskans 60 and older reported the highest losses of any age group, at $16.2 million.
What are other common scams targeting Alaskans?
Impostor scams are among the most common scams in Alaska. In these scams, criminals impersonate someone you trust, such as a government agency, a business or a family member. Alaskans have also reported fake law enforcement officers demanding fines for missed jury duty, as well as fake online sellers. Pet owners should watch for scammers who claim to have found a missing pet and then demand money. Learn about other scams targeting Alaskans at aarp.org/states/alaska/fraud-prevention.
Where can Alaskans 50 and older find help with a legitimate job search?
AARP offers free job-search resources for people 50 and older, including guidance on starting a search, updating a résumé, preparing for interviews and returning to the workforce. Job seekers can start with AARP's Work and Jobs resources and the AARP help article "Can AARP Help Me Look for a Job?"
How can I get alerts about new scams?
You can sign up for AARP's free Watchdog Alerts, a biweekly scam newsletter, or text FWN to 50757 for text alerts. AARP's Scam-Tracking Map also lets you see and report scams near you.
Sources
AARP. "About AARP Fraud Watch Network." AARP, n.d. https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/.
AARP. "Can AARP Help Me Look for a Job?" AARP Help, September 4, 2026. https://help.aarp.org/s/article/find-job.
AARP. "Report Fraud to the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline." AARP, n.d. https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/.
AARP. "Scams Near You: Alaskans Share Their Stories." AARP, May 27, 2026. https://www.aarp.org/states/alaska/scams-near-you-alaskans-share-their-stories/.
AARP Foundation. "Watch Out for Work-Related Scams." AARP Foundation, n.d. https://my.aarpfoundation.org/article/work-scams/.
Kiger, Patrick J. "Searching for a Job Online? Watch for Scams." AARP, updated January 5, 2026. https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/online-job-search/.
Severin, Katherine. "New Data Shows Fraud Impact in Alaska." AARP Alaska, n.d. https://www.aarp.org/states/alaska/new-data-shows-fraud-impact-in-alaska/.
Severin, Katherine. "World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Protecting Older Alaskans from Fraud." AARP Alaska, June 2, 2026. https://www.aarp.org/states/alaska/world-elder-abuse-awareness-day/.
Smith, Aidan. "Think pets are expensive? So is this scam." AARP Alaska, October 2, 2026. https://www.aarp.org/states/alaska/think-pets-are-expensive-so-is-this-scam/.
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