The Job Scam Report Podcast
by Mark Anthony Dyson
The podcast, “The Job Scam Report,” can only be found here on my Substack and YouTube.I created "The Job Scam Report" on Substack in May 2024. I started the podcast shortly after realizing its potential to reach many more job seekers trying to conduct a job search without being lured by bad actors. Job scams are a pandemic in the marketplace. The sooner the signs of a scam are recognized, the quicker one must disengage from communication with them. It should take just one sign to stop, block, and report them. Inform your network and report if you have engaged with a link, PDF, or downloaded a communication from them. Subscribe to my Substack: markanthonydyson.substack.com. Contact me with inquiries: markanthonydyson{at}substack{dot}com.Along the way, I added April Price-Horton, Jay Jones, and Russell Irby as regular co-hosts. We've created memorable and informative shows that have been watched by hundreds of participants on LinkedIn Live. Ashley Price-Horton: YouTube: @cybercare
Episodes
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What Are The Lessons to Unlock About Job Scams From 2014
An animal on prey, the smell of blood. That was 2014. Today, in 2026, this remains true. This episode is a breakdown from The Voice of Job Seekers podcast that I recorded with my guest, Bridget Weide Brooks. Who was a job scam expert and also supported career services providers with Resume…
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How Fake Jobs Exploit the Desperate
Job seekers underestimate still underestimate the value of asking the right questions, doing the necessary research, and noticing erratic behavior of fake recruiters. Getting to the interview could be a trap because your mind creates a irrational of any positive occurrence as validation. Our...
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Scammy Behavior: Who's Really Behind That Strange Job Post?
This special edition of the podcast covered job-search safety tips and strategies. My co-hosts and I share things you can apply to your job search right away. You’ll get even more from yesterday’s show. I’ll share it in the next month or so, but you won’t want to miss it. We recorded this episode...
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It's Here: Gen Z and the Astonishing Rise of Job Scams
Social engineering and artificial intelligence are the weapons of choice, but also of war. Both are constant traps charlatans use to lure job seekers into an entangled web where impersonations become real. That is why there aren't enough job scam warnings, no matter how loudly the same red flags...
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How to Unmask Job Scams with The Zero Trust Mindset
This week’s episode is an excerpt from the “Nothing Felt Wrong” podcast. The podcast covers all types of scams, including job scams. Anne Genduso is the creator and host, and beyond scams, she dives deep into the deception and manipulation tactics of bad actors. From online scams to financial…
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AI Fraud Surge in Hiring: Download The Zero-Trust Mindset
This week, I wanted to share an excerpt from a podcast I recently appeared on, “Careering with Cameron.” I discussed the “Zero Trust” mindset and offered insights for the employed, unemployed, and underemployed on how to job search safely and strategically. This core mantra can be practiced daily...
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Faking the Funk: Ghost Jobs, Fake Employers, and the Fight for Transparency
The crew was back together for another insightful episode of not just job scam advice, but also an important discussion about ghost jobs. There are two states in the news addressing them from two different angles: New York has a bill where they are calling on employers to be transparent to post...
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Easy Apply Is a Trap — Here’s The One Thing to Do Instead
In this episode of “The Job Scam Report,” we are not only looking at the lack of caution job seekers are taking when scrutinizing jobs, but also at how they are recklessly job searching. My co-hosts, Ashley and Russ, are offering great insight into how employers view job seekers’…
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Verify First: How Professionals Can Stay Safe in a Scam-Saturated Job Market
I announced last week during this event, which is this week’s podcast, that the summer newsletter will be open to the public, not just paid subscribers. I want everyone to stay up to date on all things job scams. Mindy Stern invited me to share job scam tips with her “Accelerator Career Group...
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Most Vulnerable: New Grads, Fed Workers & Military Spouses in the Job Scam Crossfire
I have just opened the floodgates: I’ve made this newsletter public for the summer. Before, you had to subscribe to my Substack to see the posts after 14 days. Now, everything is visible from May 13, 2024, to today and for the rest of the summer. Please share with your network, friends, and…
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The Really Subtle and Simple Signs of Recruitment Fraud
If you’ve been reading about job scams in the news, on this platform, or in videos, the only conclusion we can all reach is the escalation and frequency of job scams continue to surge, as do other types of scams. The job numbers from any angle lack the comfort needed during these times. If...
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Two Years Later, Job Scams Surge, And I'm Just Starting
This week marks two years since the launch of “The Job Scam Report.” The project began as a direct response to a persistent job-market problem. Over that time, I’ve created more than 150 pieces of content—articles, videos, and podcasts. I’m grateful that more than 3,000 subscribers have chosen to...
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Job Scam Alert: Run Now if Employers Skip This
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is likely the primary tool in the scammer’s arsenal. Not because it is doing everything for scammers, but their scaling the use of AI is causing constant doubt and fear. Both are the kryptonite for most job seekers entering a bare-bones job market. Thanks for joining…
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This is Why Job Scams Are Thriving in The Job Market Right Now
The job market is tough. In this episode, I break down why job scams are more dangerous than ever, what the latest data reveals, and how smart job seekers must protect themselves. What We Cover: * Why economic uncertainty and job seeker apprehension are ripe grounds for harvest in job scams *…
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This is Why Your Skepticism is Your Security
You can’t trust what you can’t see. There’s truth and danger in that saying. Technology is a sophisticated conundrum, and job candidates may unknowingly interview with fake recruiters as AI avatars. Real companies use them, as do fake ones. The crew, Ashley, Jay, Russ, and I say you can’t trust...
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How to Instantly Detect And Stop Fake Background Checks
Everyone needs to hear from someone or people who live and offer sound reasoning. Enter Russ Irby and Ashley Price-Horton. Russ Irby, a 25-year HR Director, is telling it like it is:-AI is not the "boogeyman."-Mailing a resume to a company without applying online makes you invisible.-The ATS is…
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How to Spot and Avoid Fake Hiring Processes
The mantra for 2026 when it comes to protecting your personal information is “Zero Trust!” You should be stingy with your personal information and only give it if you have researched the company and the people you interview, and feel safe. Your data privacy is the most valuable asset you own. In...
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Why Do Job Seekers Need Aggressive Defense Solutions Right Now
Zero Trust. That’s what we need to use as a personal defense system against unfamiliar or strange communications, or from people we did not vet before they communicate with us. We hope you’ll join the cast of “The Job Scam Report” on Saturday, Feb. 28, 10 am CST - 11 am EST for our LinkedIn...
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How to Spot and Avoid AI-Generated Deepfake Job Scams
Here's an uncomfortable truth your mind won't want to believe: Job scams will be as prevalent in the next three weeks as they've been all year. We should all anticipate an increase in AI-generated job scams, given how remarkably "goodwill" this season is. Those in the job hunt must navigate this...
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How Will This New Bill Help Vets Against Job Scams
Our military personnel and veterans are often targets of all kinds of scams. Bad actors target them because of their frequent moves and transitions. They also understand that their service profiles contain valuable information that can serve as assets. H.R. 1663, also known as the VSAFE Act,...
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How to Identify Deepfakes, and Job Scams in 2026
The battleground in spotting and avoiding deepfake job interview videos is just beginning, which is one reason why I wanted publish this episode. I also saw an article this week discussing AI-generated deepfake videos and their ability to fool even the most sophisticated and vigilant. The show…
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This Is The 2026 Challenge: How Scammers Steal LinkedIn Profiles
Kevin Turner, a well-known Brand Strategist and LinkedIn expert, offered a post-show perspective on job scams on LinkedIn. He says a stolen LinkedIn profile could be leveraged on other platforms, such as Facebook and Fiverr, to sell fake services. He says bad actors will use the credibility…
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The Most Interesting Discussion About Ghost and Fake Jobs — Explained
I hate “ghost jobs” as much as the next job seeker, and I’m not looking for a job. But I am trying to make sense of it all and will need help explaining, I hope, more clearly than you’ll see in most LinkedIn posts. There are many articles about ghost jobs, but not in the context of the…
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Is LinkedIn's "Open To Work" Badge A Safe Tool Now?
In this week’s episode of “The Job Scam Report,” the entire crew is back to collaborate on some of the most pressing job scam news. Ashley Price-Horton, Jay Jones, and Russell Irby are back to help make sense of it all. I kicked off our panel with breaking news about LinkedIn’s “Open To Work”…
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How to Protect Students From This One Job Scam
In this week’s minisode, I’m warning students about the dangers of money mule scams disguised as job offers. The FBI states, “Criminals recruit money mules to help launder proceeds derived from online scams and frauds or crimes like human trafficking and drug trafficking.” Criminals target...
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How to Defend Against Risky Job Scams and Search Safely
This week’s episode is the presentation Jay, Ashley, and I gave at the Intel Corporation Alumni Network’s monthly “Path to Next Series.” A big shout-out to Gina Riley, a member of the organization, who invited us out to present “Avoid Job Scams.” These are my notes for the presentation, “Path to...
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How To Spot Fake Career Services Professionals Before Getting Played By One
Thanks for joining this very special edition of the podcast. Several of my industry colleagues in the career field recounted their experiences of being spoofed (or duped) by bad actors. Jay Jones, co-host of the podcast, moderated this panel entitled “Hijacked Identities: How to Protect Your…
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How to Know if HR is Fighting Fake Job Market
In this in-depth interview, Mark Anthony Dyson speaks with HR veteran Russell Irby (https://www.linkedin.com/in/russirby) about the growing challenges in today’s job market, particularly the prevalence of fake jobs, fake candidates, and the impact of technology and AI on both job seekers and...
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The Resume Details Job Scammers Want to Exploit
In this episode, I discuss with Ashley the alarming rise in job scams and how scammers exploit the personal information found on resumes. We highlight that resumes are not just tools for job applications—they’re also potential gateways for identity theft and other cybercrimes. I share recent...
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How to Stay Job Scam Free on LinkedIn
Editor’s note: This article also includes an affiliate link where I would receive a commission. Scammers create fake job postings, especially for remote “bridge jobs,” to steal resumes and personal information from vulnerable job seekers. We discussed common red flags, such as vague job...
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The Fake Job Market Will Exploit Vulnerable Federal Workers
I hope you enjoyed your holiday if you were off. I hope you enjoy this minisode of the podcast. Ashley, Jay, and I discuss how federal layoffs make workers vulnerable to job scams, the risks of sharing resume end dates, differences between federal and civilian resumes, and strategies for safer…
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Inside the New Hiring Hoax: Ghosts, Fakes, & AI Tricks
“The Resume Is Dead” was written on the t-shirt of Vrijen Attawar, Founder and CEO of Careerspan. His company helps job seekers develop their professional story through conversational coaching and tailored resumes. Vrijen started as a career coach, and along with his co-founder of Careerspan, saw...
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The Latest 7 Sleazy Ways Job Scams Steal Passwords
Here are some basics to apply to any and all attempts to get your financial and personal information: * Never give your passwords to anyone. * Use a password manager * Use MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) IN all circumstances * Be a critical thinker (more in the video) 1. Fake Job Application...
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How To Combat the Surge of Believable Job Scams
I had the privilege of speaking with Michael Schuemack from IdentityIQ, a cybersecurity company monitoring scam activity. We dove deep into the surge of job scams, their tactics, and strategies job seekers can implement themselves. Michael explained that his organization can anticipate some…
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How To Detect And Overcome The Fake Job Market
Just like a landmine of explosives covered by dirt, in plain sight, the fake job market exists. Job seekers are fatigued by the numerous dead-end applications they’re filling out. Fake jobs from phony companies are listed on the same page as ghost jobs from legitimate companies, and the average…
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How Emerging Deepfakes and AI Chatbots Will Fool Job Seekers
There will be victims of deepfake job interviews. Most job seekers don't prepare adequately for job interviews, and even worse, they often don't know what to expect. The lines are less blurred between the deepfake videos of last and the ones where technology enables anyone to create videos of...
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Job Scams 101: How To Stay Safe Right Now
"Have you ever felt a rush of excitement upon receiving a job offer that seemed too good to be true?” Many college students will face this dilemma, especially new grads. I participated in a panel a year ago at St. Xavier’s University in Chicago. I was joined by several other panelists: Lauren...
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Fear Is The Most Lethal Weapon I've Ever Seen
Thanks for joining me on The Job Scam Report. Today, I opened up about a topic often left unspoken in the job search—fear—and how it quietly plays a role before someone even falls for a scam. Fear doesn’t just show up after the damage is done. It starts when someone’s been laid off a few times,...
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How To Win The Summertime Job Scam Surge
Summary In the episode of “The Jobs Scam Report” podcast, we discussed recent layoff trends, the associated rise in job scams, and strategies to avoid them. Jay Jones and Ashley Price Horton joined me to share insights on red flags, evolving scammer tactics, including deepfakes and AI-generated...
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Job Scams: Warnings And Tips From A Cybersecurity Expert
In today’s episode, I am featuring Lance Spitzner, Workforce of Cybersecurity at SANS Institute and a board member of the National Cybersecurity Alliance. Highlights of our discussion: * Key points include the importance of vigilance, verifying information, and recognizing red flags such as...
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20 of the Best Tools to Identify Fake Companies
We’re in a job market where fake and real jobs are listed on the same job boards, with few differences in the job descriptions. Job seekers don’t have to go to a job site to land fake jobs. Unsuspecting job seekers have gone to fake job sites and not applied. They are still targeted because fake...
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12 Popular Myths About Job Scams To Destroy Today
People who are most vulnerable to job scams often lack awareness and knowledge, and underestimate their potential to be duped by scammers. I’m glad you are reading this, which means you’re trying to stay sharp, marketable, and vigilant. I hope you share this with your coworkers, friends, family,...
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Job Scam Reminders That Will Make You Safe
Welcome back to “The Job Scam Report” podcast. There are many first-time listeners, so welcome. I am grateful that you’re listening, as you wish to job search safely and strategically. Subscribe and you’ll find the advice will help you secure your personal information and find work. If you’re not...
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How HireClick's Data Leak Will Make Job Seekers Vulnerable (Breaking News!)
HireClick experienced a data breach, exposing approximately 5.7 million resumes to scammers, which could potentially enable identity theft and phishing. Job seekers should protect their personal information when applying for jobs. Most people don’t realize how vulnerable their privacy is until it...
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Overcome AI-Powered Job Scams: How to Protect Yourself
Today marks the platform's first anniversary. While most of the content is about job scams, we proudly present relevant job search advice. When we discuss the future of work, navigating the job scam landscape safely is as important as modern job search strategies. Job scams are as old as job...
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How to Identify Social Media Career Services Scams
In this short podcast episode, I explain how a scammer tried to lure one of our LinkedIn Live participants into resume writing services. Bad actors pull out all the stops, and you must carry the same energy. Their efforts are increasing as layoffs and job separations intensify. Our podcast…
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How To Navigate The Worst Fake Job Market Ever
It’s wild to experience as a job seeker in 2025, a “fake job market” can hinder your reach to actual hiring employers. You are searching for opportunities in a landmine of fake employers, hiring managers, recruiters, career services professionals, and referrers. This is a critical time in the...
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How To Be "Search Everywhere Optimization" Ready And Combat Job Scams
Remember “Search Engine Optimization” and how it helps businesses and people get found online? It’s keyword—or key phrase-driven, and those who master it enhance and increase authority, traffic, or notoriety. “Search Everywhere Optimization” is a valuable discussion to explore how job seekers can...
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How to Navigate Job Scams: Layoffs, Survival, and Triumph
The cast of “The Job Scam Report” had another great show on our “LinkedIn Live” as we provided advice on job scams, job search, and additional resources to earn money. Many of our audience were recently laid off or anticipate layoffs from the federal government and their industry landscape of...
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How To Create a Job Scam Targeting Federal Workers
Many of my readers work in the federal government, so I feel compelled to help. This week, I’m reverse engineering my method to help everyone avoid job scams from the scammer's perspective. I hope to bring it with clarity and empathy while communicating the harsh reality of already seeing…
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About this show
The podcast, “The Job Scam Report,” can only be found here on my Substack and YouTube.I created "The Job Scam Report" on Substack in May 2024. I started the podcast shortly after realizing its potential to reach many more job seekers trying to conduct a job search without being lured by bad actors. Job scams are a pandemic in the marketplace. The sooner the signs of a scam are recognized, the quicker one must disengage from communication with them. It should take just one sign to stop, block, and report them. Inform your network and report if you have engaged with a link, PDF, or downloaded a communication from them. Subscribe to my Substack: markanthonydyson.substack.com. Contact me with inquiries: markanthonydyson{at}substack{dot}com.Along the way, I added April Price-Horton, Jay Jones, and Russell Irby as regular co-hosts. We've created memorable and informative shows that have been watched by hundreds of participants on LinkedIn Live. Ashley Price-Horton: YouTube: @cybercare
Hosted by
Mark Anthony Dyson