Scams targeting job seekers, and the professionals who serve them, are evolving fast. From resume writer identity theft and fake job listings to impersonation schemes and phony coaching offers, bad actors are infiltrating our space with alarming sophistication.
As trusted career professionals, we’re not only vulnerable, but we’re being used as bait.
This candid CDI member-only discussion shone a light on these shadowy scams, with members contributing stories, experiences, insights, and prevention strategies.
This session was rated a 4.9 by participants!
They said it was: Educational, Informative, Timely, Edifying, Useful, Shocking, Helpful, Friendly, Open, Stimulating, and Riveting!
While we didn’t capture a recording this time, we created something even more valuable: a comprehensive written recap of the discussion. This document is designed as a practical reference guide you can return to again and again, complete with member insights, shared resources, and actionable tips to safeguard yourself and your clients.
Key Questions We Explored in Navigating Career Industry Scams:
Protecting Ourselves as Professionals
- Have you ever had your name, website, or credentials used in a scam?
- What steps do you take to verify potential clients and protect your identity?
- How do you communicate your legitimacy to prospective clients in a scam-saturated marketplace?
Safeguarding Job Seekers
- What scam tactics are your clients reporting most frequently?
- How do you educate your clients about job search scams?
- Do you have any red flag checklists or warnings you provide during onboarding?
Spotting the Red Flags
- What are the telltale signs of a scam targeting either a job seeker or a career pro?
- What tools or methods do you use to research suspicious companies, job postings, or inquiries?
Taking Action
- Have you ever reported a scam to the FTC, FBI, or a platform (like Fiverr or LinkedIn)? What was the outcome?
- What legal or brand protection strategies (e.g., contracts, disclaimers, identity verification) do you use?
- How can we collectively advocate for stronger protections or visibility as a trusted industry?
Spreading Awareness
- How are you using your platform—website, LinkedIn, emails—to proactively warn others?
- What sharable resources do you wish more professionals and clients knew about?
- How can we encourage others in our field to take this issue seriously before they become victims?
Why This Recap Matters
Unlike a one-time Zoom recording, this recap is designed to be:
- Searchable & skimmable: Easy to revisit when you need reminders.
- Sharable: Use the links and insights to educate your own clients.
- Actionable: Includes resources, red-flag lists, and real-world examples from your peers.
- Ongoing: A document you can reference long after the meeting ended.
Together, we’re building a stronger line of defense against career industry scams.
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Additional Resources for Navigating Career Industry Scams
We’ve gathered all CDI’s scam support resources together in one place. These include:
Resources to Protect Career Industry Pros, Job Seekers, and the Industry from Scams >>
Free Resources:
- How Job Seekers Can Avoid Resume Writing Scams (CDI Infographic) >>
- Forbes Article – 4 Ways Job Seekers Can Avoid Scams >>
- What Job Seekers Must Know Before Hiring a Resume Writer (LinkedIn Article) >>
- Resource Page: How to Avoid Resume Writing & Career Coaching Scams >>
- How to Spot Online Job Scams + Tips to Avoid Them >>
- Rise of Job Scams – What to Know & How to Avoid Them (Video Replay) >>
- How to Select a Resume Writer or Career Coach >>
Resources for Member’s Only:
Career Industry / Employment Myths & Scams Done-for-You Job Seeker Report >> White-labeled for you to personalize and give away or sell
Navigating Career Industry Scams Discussion: Protecting Ourselves, Our Clients, and Our Industry >> (Located on this page above, must be logged in to view).
