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Check whether a job offer or recruiter is a scam
A recruiter messages out of the blue with a great job, then asks you to pay for training or checks. Get a calm check of the red flags before you send money or ID.
The prompt · ChatGPT
Help me check whether this job offer or recruiter might be a scam. What they sent: [paste the message, advert or offer, removing my personal details] How they contacted me: [e.g. WhatsApp out of the blue, a job site, email] What they've asked for: [e.g. payment, bank details, passport, to download an app] What I've already sent or paid: [anything] Ask me up to 3 short questions first if anything important is missing. Wait for my answers. Then: 1. The warning signs in what I've pasted, each with one line on why it matters. 2. Anything that looks normal for a real employer. 3. Safe ways to check: finding the company myself (not through their links), calling a number I find independently, and checking the company is real. 4. What not to send until I'm sure. 5. If I've already paid or shared details: tell me to contact my bank straight away and report it to Report Fraud (the UK's fraud and cyber crime reporting service). Calm and practical. Don't say it's definitely fake or definitely real. Only use what I've told you, leave blanks for anything I haven't given, and don't invent facts or figures. UK English. Stay in this ChatGPT chat. Do not turn on apps or connectors, and do not use memory from another chat.
A short example
Fill the blanks, then paste. paste the message, advert or offer, removing my personal details: a short note you already have. e.g. WhatsApp out of the blue, a job site, email: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.
The prompt · Copilot
Help me check whether this job offer or recruiter might be a scam. What they sent: [paste the message, advert or offer, removing my personal details] How they contacted me: [e.g. WhatsApp out of the blue, a job site, email] What they've asked for: [e.g. payment, bank details, passport, to download an app] What I've already sent or paid: [anything] Ask me up to 3 short questions first if anything important is missing. Wait for my answers. Then: 1. The warning signs in what I've pasted, each with one line on why it matters. 2. Anything that looks normal for a real employer. 3. Safe ways to check: finding the company myself (not through their links), calling a number I find independently, and checking the company is real. 4. What not to send until I'm sure. 5. If I've already paid or shared details: tell me to contact my bank straight away and report it to Report Fraud (the UK's fraud and cyber crime reporting service). Calm and practical. Don't say it's definitely fake or definitely real. Only use what I've told you, leave blanks for anything I haven't given, and don't invent facts or figures. UK English. Stay in this Copilot chat. Leave plugins off, and do not open a file from OneDrive.
A short example
Fill the blanks, then paste. paste the message, advert or offer, removing my personal details: a short note you already have. e.g. WhatsApp out of the blue, a job site, email: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.
You paste the message, advert or offer you've received.
The assistant asks how they contacted you and what they've asked for.
You get the red flags it shows, safe ways to check, and what to do if you've already paid.
What happens
Use Copilot to check whether a job offer or recruiter is a scam
A recruiter messages out of the blue with a great job, then asks you to pay for training or checks. Get a calm check of the red flags before you send money or ID.
Tools
Paste the prompt, fill the blanks, copy the draft.
- Microsoft Copilot — required. Drafts from the text you paste. Nothing is sent.
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