Perth, April 14: About 3.5 million Australians fell victim to a job scam in the past year, according to new research from global job site Indeed, as fake offers targeting job seekers become increasingly sophisticated.
Indeed said one in two Australian workers had received a suspicious job ad over the past 12 months, with 59 per cent of those targeted falling for the scam. Nearly half said they lost time through lengthy exchanges with scammers, while 22 per cent reported having personal information such as identification or banking details stolen. One in 10 also lost money, usually through upfront fees or fake training costs.
Younger Australians were found to be especially vulnerable. Indeed said 70 per cent of Gen Z and 64 per cent of Millennials were more likely to fall for fake job offers than older generations. Men were also twice as likely as women to lose money to a job scam.
The report comes as Scamwatch recorded about $18.5 million in losses from job and employment scams in 2025, with nearly 5,500 scams formally reported. Indeed said the damage went beyond financial loss, with 69 per cent of Australians saying scam experiences had made them more cautious when applying for work, while 72 per cent worried they or someone they knew could be caught out.
Lauren Anderson, Workplace Expert at Indeed said: “When job seekers report suspicious ads, it helps platforms act quickly to remove scams and protect others. Raising awareness is one of the most effective ways to reduce the spread of fraudulent job ads and keep the job market safer for everyone.”
“Job scams aren’t always easy to detect and are becoming more sophisticated. They’re designed to look professional, urgent, and convincing and can trick even the most discerning of job seekers.”
“Australians should exercise caution with job offers that ask for upfront payments for equipment, training, or onboarding, as well as those that promise high pay for little effort or experience, request personal or financial details early in the process, or pressure candidates to act quickly or move conversations off platform. If a job sounds too good to be true, it usually is.”
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