Why Job Search Safety Matters
Online job searching has made finding work easier than ever — but it has also created new opportunities for fraudsters. Fake job listings, impersonation scams, and data-harvesting schemes are genuine risks that affect thousands of jobseekers every year. The good news: almost all scams share the same warning signs, and knowing what to look for dramatically reduces your risk.
This guide is written for jobseekers on Hirrd and across all job platforms. Hirrd does not verify employer identities or job posting accuracy. We take reports of fraudulent listings seriously and remove them when identified — but the responsibility for your own safety ultimately rests with you.
Red Flags of a Fake Job
No single red flag guarantees a job is fake, but multiple warning signs together should make you stop and verify before proceeding.
- The salary is unrealistically high for the described role and experience level. If a "data entry" role is offering €80,000 with no experience required, it is almost certainly fraudulent.
- The job description is vague or generic, with little detail about actual responsibilities, the team, or the company's product or service.
- You are asked to pay money — for training materials, background checks, equipment, or any other reason. Legitimate employers never ask you to pay to get a job.
- You are asked for bank details, national ID, or passport information before being offered a role or without a formal contract in place.
- The recruiter contacts you out of nowhere on WhatsApp, Telegram, or Instagram (not a professional email) offering a job you didn't apply for.
- The hiring process has no interview, or the "interview" is conducted entirely by text message or email.
- The company cannot be verified — no website, no LinkedIn presence, no Google results, no registration in the Spanish business registry (Registro Mercantil).
- You are offered the job immediately, without any meaningful assessment of your skills or background.
- The contact email does not match the company domain (e.g. a Gmail address for a company claiming to be a large corporation).
- There is pressure to decide quickly or the offer is presented as time-limited.
How to Verify a Company Before Applying
Before sharing your CV or personal information with any employer, take five minutes to verify their legitimacy:
- Search the company name on Google and look for an independent web presence — a real website, news articles, social media accounts, and Google Maps listing.
- Check the Registro Mercantil (registradores.org) to confirm the company is registered in Spain, its registered address, and its legal form.
- Find the company on LinkedIn and look for employee profiles. A company claiming to have 500 employees but with zero LinkedIn presence is suspicious.
- Check Glassdoor and similar review platforms for employee feedback and any reports of fraudulent activity.
- Call the company's official phone number (found on their website, not provided by the recruiter) and ask to speak with HR to confirm the vacancy exists.
- Search the recruiter's name and email independently to confirm they are who they claim to be.
Information You Should Never Share Before Receiving a Job Offer
Even if a job appears legitimate, there is information you should never share until you have a signed contract and a verified, trustworthy employer:
- Bank account or IBAN details — not even for "payroll setup."
- Passport, DNI, or NIE number — not until you have met in person and verified the employer's identity.
- Social Security number (número de la Seguridad Social)
- Copies of identity documents — a legitimate recruiter does not need these at the application stage.
- Login credentials to any account, under any circumstances.
- Payment of any kind — for equipment, training, admin fees, or anything else.
Your CV (name, email, work history) is safe to share via legitimate job platforms like Hirrd. Do not attach scanned copies of ID documents to applications.
If Something Feels Wrong
Trust your instincts. If something about a job opportunity feels off — even if you cannot pinpoint exactly why — slow down before proceeding.
- Stop the conversation and do not provide further information until you have verified the employer's identity independently.
- Tell a trusted friend or family member about the opportunity and ask for a second opinion.
- Search the exact wording of suspicious messages — many scam scripts are used repeatedly and will appear in forum warnings or scam alert databases.
- If you have already shared sensitive information, contact your bank immediately if bank details were involved, and consider reporting to the police.
What to Do If You Think You've Been Scammed
If you believe you have been the victim of a job scam, take the following steps as quickly as possible:
- If you sent money: Contact your bank immediately and ask to reverse the transfer. Spanish banks have fraud teams available 24/7. File a denuncia (police report) at your nearest Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil station — you will need this for any bank claim.
- If you shared identity documents: Contact the Policía Nacional's Brigada de Investigación Tecnológica (BIT) which handles digital identity fraud. Monitor your credit file for unusual activity.
- Report the job listing on Hirrd using the "Report this job" button on the listing page. We will investigate and remove fraudulent listings immediately.
- Report to the AEPD (Agencia Española de Protección de Datos) at aepd.es if your personal data was misused.
- Report to the Policía Nacional cybercrime unit online at policia.es/denuncias or in person at your local station. Include all communications, email addresses, and any payment receipts.
How to Report a Suspicious Listing on Hirrd
Every job listing on Hirrd has a "Report this job" button at the bottom of the page. Clicking it opens a form where you can select a reason and add details. All reports are reviewed by our team within 24 hours.
When reporting, please include:
- Why you believe the listing is fraudulent or misleading
- Any communications you have had with the supposed employer
- Any specific discrepancies you noticed
Hirrd may contact you for more information. Your identity will not be shared with the employer being reported.
Key Spanish Authorities for Reporting Fraud
- Policía Nacional — Cybercrime: policia.es | 091
- Guardia Civil — EDITE (Digital Fraud Unit): guardiacivil.es
- AEPD (Data Protection): aepd.es | +34 912 663 517
- INCIBE (National Cybersecurity Institute): incibe.es/en | 017 (free helpline)
- OCU (Consumer rights organisation): ocu.org
Remember: reporting a scam protects not just yourself but other jobseekers who might fall victim to the same fraud. If something feels wrong, report it.