Jobstreet by SEEK has issued a public alert to warn and educate job seekers in Malaysia following a sharp increase in reports of recruitment scams targeting vulnerable individuals via unofficial communication channels.
According to data from Jobstreet’s customer service team, 142 scam-related incidents were reported between August 2024 and March 2025, with December 2024 seeing a worrying spike of 65 cases in a single month. These figures only reflect formal complaints, suggesting the actual number of victims could be significantly higher.
The job platform highlighted a disturbing trend involving impersonation scams—where fraudsters pose as Jobstreet representatives through platforms such as WhatsApp, luring job seekers with messages like “Your Resume Has Been Approved”. Victims are then manipulated into sharing sensitive personal details or paying upfront fees for fake job opportunities.
“Scammers take advantage of job seekers who may overlook red flags in their urgency to find work,” said Nicholas Lam, managing director at Jobstreet by SEEK Malaysia.
“This exploitation not only causes financial loss but erodes confidence in legitimate opportunities,” he continued, adding that the company remains “committed to creating a safer job search experience and empowering users through transparency, technology, and education.”
Jobstreet recently published its Top Job Scams to Watch for in 2025, which identifies several dangerous trends:
- Cryptocurrency Task Fraud – Fake recruiters demand upfront crypto payments for simple online tasks.
- Money Mule Scams – Victims are recruited into roles that unknowingly involve laundering illicit funds.
- Identity Theft – Fraudulent postings steal personal and banking information.
- Impersonation Scams – Scammers falsely claim to represent Jobstreet through unofficial messaging apps.
To counteract the rising threat, Jobstreet has introduced a range of proactive safety tools, including:
- An updated Current Scams page on its Security & Privacy Hub, highlighting ongoing scams such as the “Your Resume Has Been Approved” ruse.
- Prominent banner alerts guiding users to verified information.
- A centralised resource for reporting and verifying suspicious activity.
- Regular safety updates via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and targeted email alerts.
- A dedicated “Protect Yourself Online” subpage with prevention tips.
Between July 2023 and June 2024, Jobstreet reviewed more than 4.9 million job ads across the Asia-Pacific region. Nearly 10 per cent of these required additional scrutiny, leading to the removal of over 1,200 fraudulent listings. Additionally, more than 1,400 high-risk hirers were blocked during onboarding.
Jobstreet urges users to remain cautious and take the following steps:
- Verify all job offers through the official Jobstreet platform.
- Avoid making any upfront payments or disclosing personal data via unofficial channels.
- Report or block suspicious contacts immediately.
- Stay informed through Jobstreet’s Security & Privacy Hub.
Anyone who suspects fraudulent activity can contact Jobstreet at +60-3-2778 9000 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM) or email [email protected].
Jobstreet concluded its alert with a call for greater public awareness and digital literacy to reduce the threat. “Together, through public vigilance and timely education, we can slow the spread of scams and strengthen trust in Malaysia’s job market,” said the company in its statement. 