# Recruiter impersonation

> Recruiter impersonation is when a scammer poses as a recruiter from a real, often well-known, company to borrow its credibility. They copy the company name and logo, use a lookalike email domain or a fake profile, and reach out with a flattering opportunity - then steer you toward paying, sharing financial details, or moving to a chat app. The familiar company name is the disguise.

Source: https://realjobcheck.com/glossary/recruiter-impersonation/  
Updated: 2026-06-02 - Real Job Check Trust and Safety Research Team

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## What it is

Recruiter impersonation is the social half of company-impersonation scams; the [lookalike domain](/glossary/lookalike-domain/) is the technical half. A scammer wraps the whole approach in a real company's identity because a familiar, reputable name disarms your skepticism faster than anything they could say. The real company is usually a victim too - its brand is being used without its knowledge.

## How it reaches you

A "recruiter" from a known company contacts you on LinkedIn, by email, or by text with an unsolicited opportunity. The profile may be new or thin, the email comes from a [lookalike or free domain](/glossary/lookalike-domain/), and the conversation moves quickly to a [chat app](/answers/recruiter-messaged-me-on-whatsapp-or-telegram/), an [offer with no real interview](/answers/job-offer-without-an-interview/), and then a request for money or personal data.

## The tell

The contact uses the company's name but not its verified channels: the email domain does not exactly match, the role is not on the company's [official careers page](/answers/is-this-job-offer-a-scam/), and the person has little or no real footprint at the company. A real recruiter is reachable through the company's own website and welcomes verification.

## What to do

Verify independently. Find the company's real site by typing the address yourself, look up the recruiter on the company's team or verified profiles, and reply only through official channels to confirm the person and the role. Report fake profiles to the platform and warn the real company. Paste the message into the [free checker](/#check) to inspect the domain and careers board automatically.