1 in 3 Singaporean job seekers falling prey to online job scams

Note: This article was first published on 19 May 2025.

A survey by staffing and recruitment agency Reeracoen Singapore and Rakuten Insight Global found that 35% of job seekers in Singapore encountered job scams in the past year, with over half being targeted more than once.

According to statistics from a report on scams and cybercrime (link to download the report) from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), job scams were the second-highest reported cases amongst all scam types in the first half of 2024. There were 5,717 cases reported until the end of June, with the total amount lost being at least S$86 million.

The Reeracoen report found that common job scam formats observed included:

• Fraudulent job listings on legitimate job portals
• Impersonation of recruiters via messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram
• Cloned company websites or phishing-style emails mimicking official pages

This was borne out by the SPF which said that victims would be contacted by scammers for job offers via messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram, or chance upon “job opportunities” through social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook

The survey found that scammers typically use legitimate-looking platforms and often impersonate recruiters to target tech-savvy candidates. Even legitimate channels like online job portals and company websites are increasingly being misused by bad actors.

A spokesperson from Reeracoen Singapore said that the most common red flags include requests for upfront fees or personal information and suspiciously high salaries paired with minimal job requirements.

The survey also found that 79% of job seekers said they are highly concerned about scam risks, with 40% reporting declining trust in recruitment platforms and agencies due to scam exposure.

What is worrying is that AI is increasingly finding its way here as another tool to aid scammers, using AI to create convincing fake ads, recruiter personas, and clone communication styles.

But despite this, only 1 in 5 respondents said they would pay for additional scam protection, reinforcing the expectation that safety should be a built-in standard, not a premium add-on.

This is why the report and Reeracoen suggest that employment portals, company websites, and regulators do the following to strengthen digital hiring integrity:

• Deploy verification badge systems to deter impersonation
• Implement AI-powered screening tools to detect and block fraudulent job postings
• Enhance collaboration with regulatory bodies like the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) on cross-platform enforcement
• Run public awareness campaigns to educate job seekers on red flags and reporting mechanisms

Other recommendations from Reeracoen are that job seekers cross-check recruiter identities (e.g. via LinkedIn or official websites), avoid offers that require payment or immediate personal data, and report suspicious activity directly to platforms.

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