Chasing your next job or chatting to an impersonator? Here’s how to tell the difference
With around 34,000 finance roles posted online last year, many people are actively searching for their next opportunity. But a busy job market also gives scammers more chances to take advantage. Some pose as well-known companies and create convincing-looking job ads to start conversations that appear genuine. Their aim is to gather personal details, request money, or collect enough information to steal someone’s identity.
Understanding how real employers communicate can make it easier to spot when something isn’t legit. Here’s what to keep in mind when trying to tell a genuine opportunity from a fake one.
Why impersonators can seem convincing
Impersonation attempts are designed to feel polished and believable. They often mimic the tone of real recruiters and use branding or language that looks official. Sometimes scammers will even create profiles using the real identity of people at the company they’re impersonating on platforms like LinkedIn.
It isn’t about anyone being ‘tricked’ – these scams are made to look and feel like normal online conversations. Knowing what to watch out for and how to approach anything that seems suspicious can help beat the scammers and put you back in control of securing your next job.
How impersonation attempts usually show up
Impersonators often lean on urgency or convenience to seem credible. You might notice things like:
Unfamiliar or generic email addresses (not ending in the recognised company email domain)
Opportunities that don’t appear anywhere on the company’s official site
Requests for payments, training fees, or ‘onboarding costs’
Pressure to respond quickly
Vague job descriptions or unusually high compensation
A mismatch in tone and language – this one can be subtle and harder to spot
Spotting even one of these can be a useful signal to pause and check.
What real hiring looks like at Monzo
When a job opportunity is genuine, you’ll notice clear, consistent signs. If your experience matches this pattern, you’re likely dealing with the real thing:
Roles appear on our official site: we only accept direct applications via our website – Monzo’s official careers page is always the source of truth!
A structured process: our process always involves live, scheduled conversations – they’re never over just email or chat. Interviews follow a clear path, and you’ll be told upfront what to expect for the role you’re applying for. If it deviates from that, you should question it.
Official Monzo email domains: genuine communication will come from @monzo.com email addresses. If you’re unsure, contact us at hiring@monzo.com and we’ll be happy to verify.
No fees or money requests: Monzo will never ask candidates to pay for anything (like courses or equipment) as part of applying.
Sensitive documents come later: ID and bank details are only requested after a formal offer, through verified channels.
Practical ways to stay in control
Here are a few ways to stay safe and in control when searching for a new job at Monzo:
Cross-check the role: visit our careers page – if the job isn’t listed there, it’s worth questioning.
Use official contact routes: sometimes our recruiters will reach out to folks directly on LinkedIn from a verified LinkedIn profile. You can always double check it’s legit by looking up the job on our official careers page or contacting us at hiring@monzo.com.
Ask for clarity: genuine employers are happy to answer questions – including Monzo!
Keep your info secure: we won’t ask for bank account details or ID documents until you’ve signed your employment contract. Keep your personal and financial details private until you’re confident you’re dealing with the real thing.
This is one of many ways fraudsters may try to manipulate the job market. Along with impersonating real companies, look out for too-good-to-be-true schemes (like work from home, excessive benefits or high-commission roles), fake training courses, requests for upfront payments, roles that involve handling money or parcels, pressure to move conversations off trusted platforms, and any process that skips normal checks like interviews or right-to-work verification. All of these are common signs that an opportunity isn’t genuine.
A quick recap
If an opportunity makes sense, matches what you see on official channels, and gives you space to check things, it’s on the right track
If it introduces pressure, money requests, or inconsistencies, that’s a sign to step back and verify