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How to spot a fake job posting
Updated October 6, 2026
Job scams target people who are eager to work. Every listing on Ronin 1 OpenBoard is checked before it goes live, but no review is perfect, and scams appear on every job site. These warning signs will help you stay safe wherever you look.
Red flags
- They ask you to pay for training, equipment, a background check or a "starter kit". Real employers don't charge you to work for them.
- They send you a check and ask you to send part of the money back or buy gift cards. This is a classic scam: the check bounces after you've already paid.
- You get a job offer without an interview, or after only a text or chat-app conversation.
- They want your Social Security number, bank details or a copy of your ID before you've been offered a real job.
- The pay is far above normal for easy work, like "earn $1,000 a week from home, no experience needed".
- The company details are vague, there's no address, the emails come from a free email account that doesn't match the company, or they pressure you to decide right away.
How to check that a job is real
- Find the company's own website and see whether the job is listed on its careers page.
- Call the company using a phone number you looked up yourself, not one from the message you received.
- Search the company name together with words like "scam" or "reviews".
- Never install software or apps that a "recruiter" sends you just to do an interview.
Work-from-home jobs need extra care
Remote listings are where scams are most common. Real remote employers still interview you by phone or video, and hire you with proper paperwork as an employee or contractor.
If you think you've found a scam
Stop responding, and don't send money or personal information. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission, which also has a helpful guide to job scams. If the listing is on Ronin 1 OpenBoard, email the link to roninonedigital@gmail.com and we'll review it and take it down.