Job scams are spiking in DFW as the market tightens. The FTC reported $508 million lost to job scams nationally in 2023, up 116% from 2020.
Red flags:
- Unsolicited job offers via text or DM. Real companies don't text you out of the blue with $80/hour data entry jobs.
- "Pay for training" or buy equipment. You should never pay to start a job.
- Interview via Telegram or WhatsApp only. Real companies use Teams, Zoom, or phone.
- Check before direct deposit setup. Scammers collect banking info this way.
- Overpayment scam. They "accidentally" send you $5,000 for equipment, then ask you to send back $3,000. The original check bounces.
How to verify a real job offer:
- Search the company on the Texas SOS business search (sos.state.tx.us)
- Find the company's real website and call their main number to verify the position
- Check LinkedIn for the recruiter — real profile, real connections, real history
- Verify the job is listed on the company's actual career page
- Search "[company name] job scam" to see if others have reported it
DFW-specific scams circulating:
- Fake warehouse jobs in DFW airport area
- "Amazon flex" clones asking for deposits
- Fake remote work opportunities from "companies" with addresses in far Denton County strip malls
Report to:
- FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Texas Workforce Commission: twc.texas.gov
- FBI IC3: ic3.gov (if you lost money)
RECEIPTS REQUIRED: If reporting a job scam, include the company name, job title, how they contacted you, and what they asked for. Screenshots help others avoid the same trap.
Sources:
- FTC — job scam data (2023 Consumer Sentinel)
- Texas Workforce Commission — fraud reporting
- FBI IC3 — internet crime complaints
- Texas SOS — business verification
If you never applied, the job isn't real.