{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How can you tell if a job offer email is a scam?",
      "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Three signals appear in almost every fake job offer: a domain registered within the last 30 days, an unverifiable HR contact with a thin or brand-new LinkedIn profile, and a request for sensitive personal information — like a Social Security number — before any interview has taken place. Any one of these alone warrants verification. All three together is a near-certain scam." }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Why do fake job offers ask for your Social Security number?",
      "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Fake job offers that request your SSN are identity theft operations. The 'onboarding form' is not a form — it is a data collection mechanism. With your SSN, date of birth, and address, scammers can open credit cards, take out loans, file fraudulent tax returns, and sell your identity on dark web marketplaces. There is no legitimate employer who requires this information before conducting at least one interview." }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Is it normal for a job offer to arrive without applying?",
      "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Legitimate unsolicited outreach does happen — recruiters on LinkedIn contact candidates regularly. What is not normal is an unsolicited offer that skips the interview process entirely and moves straight to requesting personal information. Real recruiters want to speak with you. Fake recruiters want your data." }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "What should I do if I already submitted personal information to a fake job offer?",
      "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Act immediately. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Visit IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized recovery plan based on exactly what was shared. File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. If you shared banking information, contact your bank right away." }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How do I check if a company is legitimate before responding to a job offer?",
      "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Search the company name in your state's Secretary of State business registry. Check when the domain was registered using a WHOIS lookup tool. Search for the company on LinkedIn and note when the page was created and how many employees are listed. Search for the HR contact separately. Run the job offer description through Scamanot's Job Offer Checker for an instant red flag analysis." }
    }
  ]
}