Treat requests for money as a serious warning
Be cautious if a recruiter asks you to pay an application, training, visa, equipment or processing fee to secure a role. Equipment-payment scams may send a false cheque or ask you to buy from a nominated supplier before funds are confirmed.
Do not send cryptocurrency, gift cards or money through an unfamiliar transfer service. A polished message or copied company logo does not make a payment request legitimate.
Verify people and organisations independently
Check that the role appears through a credible channel, the sender’s domain matches the organisation and the interviewer has a plausible professional presence. Contact the organisation through details you found independently when something feels inconsistent.
Fake recruiters often move quickly to encrypted messaging, conduct text-only “interviews” and make an offer without meaningful assessment. None of these signs proves fraud alone, but several together justify stopping and verifying. Hire Kenyan Talent does not claim that every employer can be risk-free, so continue to use your own judgement.
Protect identity and account information
An employer may eventually need legitimate onboarding information, but timing and method matter. Do not send identity documents, tax details, banking credentials or one-time security codes during an early conversation. Ask why information is needed, how it will be stored and who will receive it.
Avoid unknown downloads and shortened or misspelled links. Use unique passwords and multi-factor authentication where available. Never allow a recruiter to take remote control of your device.
Respond to pressure by pausing
Scammers create urgency so you act before checking. Pause if you are told an opportunity will disappear unless you pay, share documents immediately or keep the process secret. Discuss the situation with someone you trust and preserve messages or payment instructions.
Report suspicious marketplace activity through the platform’s available support route. If you shared sensitive data or money, contact the relevant financial provider and appropriate authorities promptly. Avoid confronting a suspected scammer in a way that creates additional risk.
Put your preparation into practice
Explore current opportunities and build an accurate professional profile that employers can understand.