In this guide
Checking employers and job offers
If you shared details with a job scammer: what to do now
An ordered plan for when you have paid or shared bank details, passwords or ID documents with a fake employer, with UK and US reporting and recovery routes.
First hour: stop what can still be stopped
- Stop replying, but keep all messages and screenshots.
- If you sent money or shared card or bank details, call your bank or card provider using the number on your card or their website. Say it is a scam and ask whether payments can be stopped or reversed.
- If you paid through an app, wire service or gift cards, contact that company straight away, as the FTC advises.
- If you shared a password or one-time code, change the password and sign out of other sessions on that account.
What to do by what you shared
| What you shared | UK actions | US actions |
|---|---|---|
| Money | Bank or provider now; report to Report Fraud or Police Scotland | Bank, app or wire company now; ReportFraud.ftc.gov |
| Bank or card details | Bank now; watch statements | Bank or card issuer now; watch statements |
| Passport, driving licence or national insurance number | Consider Cifas Protective Registration; watch your credit file | IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan if misuse is possible |
| Social Security number | Not applicable | IdentityTheft.gov; watch credit reports |
| Passwords or codes | Change passwords; turn on two-step verification | Change passwords; turn on two-step verification |
Protecting your identity over the following months
In the UK, Cifas Protective Registration places a warning against your details in its National Fraud Database, so member organisations carry out extra checks when your details are used to apply for products. Cifas says it is most effective in the first months after your data is lost, lasts 24 months and is a fraud prevention measure, not insurance.
In the US, IdentityTheft.gov lets you report identity theft and get a recovery plan, and the FTC's identity theft guidance explains the warning signs to watch for.
Ongoing checks
- Read bank and card statements for transactions you do not recognise.
- Check your credit file or credit reports for applications you did not make.
- Watch for unexpected post, accounts or calls about debts.
- Ignore anyone offering to recover your money for a fee.
Look after yourself
Job scams are designed to exploit people who are trying to work, and being targeted is not a reflection of your judgement. Talk to someone you trust, and when you return to your search, use the checks in the related guides before sharing information with a new employer.
Common questions
Should I tell the employer whose name was used?
Yes, through the contact details on its official website. It may already know about the impersonation and can warn other candidates.
Will reporting affect my credit score?
Reporting a scam does not harm your credit. Cifas says its Protective Registration does not affect your credit score either.
Sources
- GOV.UK: avoid and report internet scams and phishingGOV.UK · UK · checked 3 October 2026
- Cifas: Protective RegistrationCifas · UK · checked 3 October 2026
- FTC: what to do if you were scammedUS Federal Trade Commission · US · checked 3 October 2026
- IdentityTheft.gov: report identity theft and get a recovery planUS Federal Trade Commission · US · checked 3 October 2026
- FTC: what to know about identity theftUS Federal Trade Commission · US · checked 3 October 2026
- ReportFraud.ftc.govUS Federal Trade Commission · US · checked 3 October 2026
Put it into practice
See how Luceria helps with thisDrafted with AI assistance and checked against Luceria’s editorial standards. Examples are illustrative, not real people’s results. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.