Trading Standards - Recruitment Scams - Cryptocurrency

18th April 2025

There have been more reports of recruitment scams which begin via a text or WhatsApp message, where scammers ask jobseekers to sign up to a website or app.

Once signed up, they're told they can earn money by completing simple tasks such as watching a video or writing a review.

However, after completing a few tasks they are asked to pay a fee in cryptocurrency to upgrade their account. On top of this, any ‘earnings' they have made will not be released. One man recently lost over £20,000 to one of these scams.

In another recent case, a woman who was looking for a job received a WhatsApp message offering the opportunity to earn thousands while working for home, writing reviews for hotels and holiday accommodation.

When she showed interest in the work, she was then cold called and asked to create an create an account on the travel website and to complete over 30 reviews a day. She started to see money appearing in her account on the website, but was told she would have to complete all 30 reviews before she could access it.

She was then asked to complete some 'commercial' reviews, which required her to transfer over £5,000 of her own money in cryptocurrency as a 'deposit'. When she queried this she was told that the more money she deposited, the more she would receive once the reviews were complete. She felt suspicious and searched for the company online, finding several negative reviews from other people who had transferred thousands of pounds to the company and had been unable to get it back.

How to Avoid
Legitimate employers/agencies will not ask you to make an upfront payment or deposit to secure work.

Genuine recruiters don't usually send unsolicited job offers via text message or WhatsApp.

Avoid clicking on links in unexpected messages and don't provide your personal details, employment history or bank details unless you have verified that the sender is a genuine recruiter.

Verify that the employer/recruiter you are speaking with is legitimate by contacting them using a phone number or email address listed on their official website or social media accounts. Check official records on websites such as Companies House to confirm that the organisation offering you the job actually exists.

Don't include personal information such as your address, date of birth or NI number on your CV or public profiles on a recruitment sites.

Never accept a job without a formal interview. If the interview is carried out remotely, it should be conducted via a recognised video platform where you can see the interviewer and talk in real time.

Find Out More
Jobs Aware website: www.jobsaware.co.uk/jobseeking-advice
Advice from Which? on avoiding recruitment scams: www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/job-scams
ScamShare Spotlight PDF on Recruitment Scams: www.tsscot.co.uk/Spotlight-Recruitment.pdf