Nearly half of Gen Z receive unsolicited job offers, prompting scam warnings
A survey commissioned by Virgin Media O2 finds almost 50% of 18-24-year-olds have been sent job offers they never applied for, and experts warn the messages often mask recruitment scams.
Virgin Media O2 commissioned a Censuswide survey of 2,000 people across the UK, revealing that almost half of adults aged 18 to 24 have been contacted with job offers they never sought. The messages range from overt “easy cash” pitches to seemingly ordinary recruiter introductions, often using familiar brand names to appear authentic. Fraud prevention director Murray Mackenzie explains that scammers prey on the difficulty of finding work, encouraging victims to transfer money, pay fees, click links, or download software.
The telecom company says it has blocked more than 1.4 billion scam texts and employs artificial intelligence to flag over 80 million nuisance calls each month. Meanwhile, the Information Commissioner’s Office reports a near-tripling of complaints about automated robo-calls, which can funnel users into recruitment scams via WhatsApp groups. Experts advise checking the source, questioning high-pay promises, protecting personal data, and forwarding suspicious texts to 7726. Victims should also alert their banks and police.
Why it matters
Young job seekers are vulnerable to deceptive recruitment scams that can lead to financial loss and privacy breaches.
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