Jobseekers Warned About WhatsApp Recruitment Scam Targeting Irish Workers

The Employment and Recruitment Federation has issued an urgent warning about a sophisticated recruitment scam circulating in Ireland, where fraudsters impersonate legitimate agencies to steal money from vulnerable jobseekers.

Scammers are contacting people unsolicited on WhatsApp, claiming to represent known recruitment agencies and using stolen company branding and logos to appear legitimate. Victims are offered seemingly attractive work-from-home roles with daily pay rates between €170 and €250, described as easy tasks requiring minimal qualifications and offering free training.

The fraud follows a predictable pattern. After initial contact, individuals are directed to register on bogus websites and complete simple tasks. They are then asked to pay small amounts, often around €10, supposedly to unlock higher-paying work, validate their account or reach a minimum funding threshold. These demands rapidly escalate into hundreds or thousands of euros before the scammers disappear completely.

Mike McDonagh, ERF Executive Board member, warned that the use of genuine company identities makes the scam particularly dangerous:

"Scams like this are not just an attack on vulnerable jobseekers, they are an attack on the reputation of our profession. Fraudsters are stealing the names, logos and credibility of genuine recruitment firms to give themselves cover, and people are understandably confused and distressed when they realise they have been exploited."

McDonagh emphasised a crucial point:

"No reputable recruitment agency in Ireland will ever ask a candidate for money to access work, training or job opportunities. If you are asked to pay, it is a scam."

The ERF has identified several warning signs that jobseekers should watch for. Unsolicited contact on WhatsApp, Telegram or similar messaging apps offering easy remote work that hasn't been applied for should raise immediate concerns. Promises of unusually high daily income for simple online tasks, with no proper interview process or skills verification, are another red flag.

Being directed to unfamiliar websites with pressure to register and act quickly is a common tactic. Most importantly, any request for payment, regardless of how small, to access work, training, account activation or to unlock tasks is definitive proof of fraud. Legitimate recruitment agencies in Ireland are paid by employers, not candidates.

McDonagh offered clear advice:

"If something feels even slightly off, stop immediately. Do not send money, do not share your bank details or ID documents, and independently verify who you are dealing with. That means going to the agency's official website, finding a published phone number or email address and checking the approach with them directly. A real firm will be very clear very quickly if a fraudster is misusing their name."

The ERF is encouraging anyone who believes they have been targeted or defrauded to report the matter to An Garda Síochána. Organisations discovering their name or branding has been misused should also report the fraud and consult guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre.

The Employment and Recruitment Federation represents over 200 member companies throughout Ireland, developing standards and codes of practice for the recruitment industry whilst providing education, training and policy advocacy on labour market issues.