Quick answer
To spot a fake job offer, verify the employer, check the recruiter's email and LinkedIn, confirm the role on the company website, refuse interview or medical fees, and avoid sending ID, bank or NIN details before the offer is verified.
This guide is written for Nigerians who need a practical next step. It gives the direct answer first, then shows what to verify, what to prepare, what mistakes to avoid and which related Explainer.NG pages can help.
Common red flags
Most fake job messages look attractive because they promise fast hiring, high salary and little screening. Real employers can move quickly, but they still leave a verifiable trail: company name, role, recruiter identity, interview process and written terms.
Be careful when a recruiter uses a free email address, refuses a video call, asks for payment, sends only WhatsApp instructions or says the job is guaranteed after a training fee.
- Interview fee
- Medical or background-check fee paid to a personal account
- No company website or office trace
- Very high salary for unclear duties
- Pressure to send documents immediately
- Poorly written offer letter
How to verify the offer
Search the company name and compare the job with its official careers page or LinkedIn page. If the company is registered locally, check whether its business identity makes sense for the role.
Call the company through a number found independently, not only the number in the message. If the recruiter claims to work for an international company, the email domain should usually match the company domain.
Protect your documents
Your CV is normal to share, but NIN, BVN, passport, bank details and utility bills should not be sent casually. If a real employer needs identity verification, it should happen through a documented process after serious hiring progress.
If you already sent sensitive documents to a suspicious recruiter, save the messages, stop further sharing and monitor accounts for unusual activity.
Checklist
- Verify company website
- Check recruiter identity
- Reject hiring fees
- Avoid personal-account payments
- Protect NIN and bank details
- Keep screenshots
People also ask
Do real employers charge interview fees?
Legitimate employers generally do not ask applicants to pay interview fees.
Can a job offer on WhatsApp be real?
It can be, but you still need to verify the company, recruiter and process independently.
Should I send my NIN for a job application?
Do not send sensitive identity documents until the employer and process are verified.
What if I paid a fake recruiter?
Keep evidence and consider reporting through the relevant consumer, police or bank channels.
Is a high salary a red flag?
Not alone, but it is suspicious when duties, company and process are unclear.