By Alexia Karayannis, BSc Psychology Student
I’m Alexia, a third-year Psychology student. I want to share my experience of spotting and reporting a scam job posting, and give tips to help other students stay safe.
Like many students, I was eager to gain work experience alongside my studies. I regularly used the university Careers Portal, which had previously helped me secure a placement, so I trusted it as a reliable source. When I saw an advert for a receptionist role, it seemed like a great opportunity to build skills and earn extra income.
The Application Process
The process started off in a familiar way — I applied by email and sent over my CV. I quickly received a response telling me I had been “accepted,” with no interview required, and was instead asked to complete an online form. This was unusual but not impossible, so I continued. The next email raised serious concerns. I was asked to organise the purchase of expensive equipment before training could begin. At this point, I decided to pause and investigate before taking any further steps.
How I checked things out
- Searched online for the recruiter’s details and found no presence.
- Contacted the organisation directly that the role was supposedly linked to — they confirmed they weren’t recruiting for that position.
- Sought advice from the university Careers and Student Services teams.
- Blocked the email address to prevent further contact.
Reporting to the Careers Service
I was reassured by how quickly the Careers Service acted after I contacted them. The vacancy was immediately removed from the portal, and the matter was escalated for further investigation. It was good to know that by reporting it, I had helped prevent other students from being targeted by the same scam.
My advice to other students
If you’re ever unsure about a job advert, the most important thing is to trust your instincts — if something feels off, take a step back and check. Do your research by looking up the recruiter or organisation independently, and where possible, contact the organisation directly to confirm whether the role really exists. Most importantly, don’t hesitate to reach out to the university Careers team; they are approachable, supportive, and take every report seriously.
Final thoughts
Scam job postings are unfortunately on the rise, but there are always ways to protect yourself. Don’t be afraid to double-check, and never feel that you have to go through the process alone. The Careers Service is there to support you, and reporting suspicious adverts can help keep the whole student community safe.