How to Protect Yourself from Online Job Scams: A SureSwift Guide

With job scams on the rise in 2025, remote companies like SureSwift are increasingly being targeted. Recently, our team was alerted to such an incident: a scammer posing as a SureSwift hiring manager attempted to conduct a fake interview over Signal, the private messaging service. Thanks to the diligence of the job seeker involved, the deception was uncovered before any harm could be done. 

Although we’re proud to be a remote-first company, remote job positions are often an easy target for scammers. As online job scams continue to grow more sophisticated every year, it's especially important to us that our candidates feel safe and well-informed when interacting with SureSwift in any capacity. That’s why today, we’re sharing helpful tips to help applicants spot red flags, verify legitimate roles, and feel confident when engaging with SureSwift.

The job applicant who foiled the fake hiring manager wisely reached out via LinkedIn to our People & Talent Partner, Karin Kwan, to verify whether the position was legitimate. In this article, we sit down with Karin to discuss the full details of the scam attempt, as well as what future SureSwift candidates can learn from it.

We’ll also highlight common red flags that are often attempted during fraudulent job interviews and offers, and explain how you can easily confirm a legitimate SureSwift opportunity.

Let’s get into it!

Table of Contents

• Inside the fake job interview scam
• How to verify a legitimate SureSwift role
• 5 job scam warning signs every applicant should know
• Cultivating a values-based hiring methodology
• Keeping SureSwift secure for current and future employees
• Protecting yourself and others from remote job scams
• Recap: How We Hire at SureSwift

Inside the fake job interview scam 

In the scam reported to our team, a fraudster posed as a SureSwift hiring manager using the name Ryan Henry. He contacted a job seeker about a fake call center role and conducted the interview through Signal, a private messaging app. To make the process appear more legitimate, he asked the candidate a series of questions about background checks, work eligibility, and job responsibilities. 

“This kind of role is easy for scammers to fake because it sounds plausible and often involves bulk hiring,” Karin said. “But the call center job didn’t exist, and once the candidate started asking specific questions, the scam became obvious.”

Because the applicant had done their research in advance, they asked if “Ryan” knew Karin Kwan, SureSwift’s People & Talent Partner. When the scammer couldn’t answer, they abruptly hung up on the applicant, confirming that the manager was fake. 

If the candidate had allowed the call to continue, the “offer” would have likely concluded with an attempt to scam the candidate financially. While it’s possible that the scammer may have been fishing for sensitive personal information or banking details, what’s just as likely is that the candidate would have been “hired” and then asked to pay upfront for job-specific training or equipment. 

In this type of hiring scam, the fake manager asks for payment, assuring the “new hire” that they’ll receive reimbursement later. Many folks, distracted by the excitement of landing a new position, end up paying out-of-pocket for promised equipment or training that never arrives. 

“Scammers are taking advantage of how tough the job market is right now,” Karin explains. “They count on candidates being eager to find work. But this applicant did their homework, and that helped protect them from this scam. We want every candidate to feel equipped to verify what’s real and what isn’t.”

Spotting interview red flags

In this particular case, even before the candidate mentioned a specific SureSwift employee, several red flags could have clued them in to the fact that this was likely to be a fraudulent interview:

• The position was for a role at a call center, a department that SureSwift doesn’t have.
• The interview took place on Signal, an app commonly exploited by scammers due to its lack of traceability. SureSwift does not utilize Signal for company communications. 
• During the interview, the scammer asked the applicant whether they’d ever had a background check, but didn’t indicate that they would follow up with any formal request or verification process.
• The scammer contacted the applicant from a generic email address. Typically, legitimate businesses are known to use company-specific domains. In SureSwift’s case, emails will always come from either @sureswiftcapital.com or @applytojob.com via our applicant tracking system, JazzHR.

Thanks to the applicant’s prior research, they were able to quickly identify the scam and prevent what might have become a costly lesson. Karin agrees: “Because the applicant had researched our team and knew my name and role, they were able to quickly confirm that something wasn’t right. That level of awareness can help prevent situations like this.” By understanding how these scams typically unfold and researching the company ahead of time, candidates can better protect themselves and others. 

How to verify a legitimate SureSwift role

Though job scammers are getting more advanced in their tactics by utilizing AI to create more realistic conversations and documentation, there are still several ways to confirm whether a job opportunity from SureSwift is legitimate.

These methods can be useful for verifying legitimacy with other companies as well:

• Go Straight to the Source: All open job notices are individually posted on our LinkedIn Jobs page or on the SureSwift LinkedIn and X pages. If you see a posting on another job board, be sure to check it against our current openings.
  
  
• Utilize LinkedIn: Look up your interviewer on LinkedIn. Do their title and background match what they claim? If you see a mutual connection who works at the company, ask the interviewer if they know that person; if they don’t, that’s likely a red flag. You can also always reach out directly to one of SureSwift’s People (HR) team members on LinkedIn to verify the interviewer’s identity.
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• Check the Email Domain: SureSwift will only contact individuals from an official corporate domain like @sureswiftcapital.com or JazzHR’s applicant tracking system domain, @applytojob.com. Previously, we’ve witnessed scammers using email addresses like sureswifttld@gmail.com; our team will never contact you from a personal account like Gmail or Hotmail.
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• Watch Out for Big Promises: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of unusually high salaries or rushed job offers. Our process typically involves at least two interview sessions, often with multiple team members involved. We also perform both reference checks and background checks (for all US employees) as part of our standard diligence.
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• Never "Pay to Play": SureSwift will never require new hires to pay the company for training or any part of the application process. To get our global team members set up efficiently and avoid delays, you may be asked to purchase equipment locally — which SureSwift will reimburse — however, there’s an important distinction from common “pay for equipment” scams: you will never be asked to send money directly to SureSwift or a designated supplier.
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• A Rushed Hiring Process: Scammers often rush the process, sometimes offering the job after a single, brief interview conducted over chat or text. A legitimate hiring process will almost always involve multiple interviews with different people. At SureSwift, these conversations usually include the hiring manager, a member of the team you would be joining, and/or a member of SureSwift’s People (HR) team.
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• Look for Official Onboarding Signs: If you’re offered a role at SureSwift, our People team will guide you through the next steps. You’ll be invited to create an account in our Human Resources Information System (HRIS), and you’ll receive a formal Employment Agreement (for Canada) or Offer Letter (for the U.S.) through official channels.

That final bullet is key, since it lays out the order of operations for getting hired at SureSwift. 

“We’re a remote company, so it’s especially important that people know what our real hiring process looks like,” Karin clarifies. “Knowing what to expect makes it easier to spot when something feels off.”

If you see a job posting and can’t determine for certain whether it’s legitimate, you can always email us at hr@sureswiftcapital.com to confirm. You can also message us directly through LinkedIn or X, and a member of our team will get back to you promptly. 

“We always follow a structured process, and every legitimate opportunity will go through the same steps,” Karin shares. “If something feels out of sync with that, it’s worth double-checking.”

If you discover that a job posting is fraudulent, it’s important to take the time to report the post to the platform hosting it, so it can be removed before other job seekers are put at risk. 

5 job scam warning signs every applicant should know

While access to every company’s hiring process isn’t readily available online, you can still armor yourself against scammers by learning their most common tactics for defrauding job applicants. 

Here are five major warning signs to look out for when applying to jobs online. 

1. Urgency: Scammers are known for using high-pressure tactics to rush you into making quick decisions, like immediately accepting a dubious job offer or sharing personal information without proper verification.
   
2. Offers of unrealistic pay for low effort: If you’re offered an unusually high salary for a low-level position, it’s likely that scammers are hoping you’ll ignore your gut feelings in hopes of an easy pay day.
   
3. Unprofessional grammar and unclear job descriptions: Typos, grammar mistakes, and overly generic job descriptions are all major hiring red flags that should never be ignored.
   
4. Asking for sensitive information (banking details, SSN, SIN, etc.): If the job interviewer asks you to share sensitive personal information, it’s important to pause and verify the legitimacy of the request. Reputable companies will never ask for these details early in the hiring process, and most utilize secure, official systems that protect your sensitive data from human access.
   
5. Requests to pay for training or equipment: As mentioned above, if an interviewer is asking for payment via money transfer, it’s a strong indication of a scam. Legitimate companies, SureSwift included, will never require candidates to pay for training or equipment upfront.

Knowing these five red flags may help you avoid falling into a future hiring trap. “Scammers succeed when people don’t know what the hiring process should look like,” Karin advises. “The more familiar you are with the company and the basics, the harder it is for them to fool you.” 

Cultivating a values-based hiring methodology

At SureSwift Capital, our Core Values lead the way in shaping our hiring process. As Karin explains, “We always ask values-based behavioural questions in our interviews. Rather than just asking about someone’s resume or experience, we want to understand their potential, how they work with others, and how they’d contribute to the team.” 

Each interview includes structured questions that correspond with values like Customer Centricity, being Data-Driven, embracing Stretch, and a commitment to Win Together – all of which play a role in how SureSwift evaluates fit beyond technical qualifications.

“For example, under Customer Centric, the ‘customer’ is the candidate. We make sure they understand the hiring process, feel comfortable during interviews, and have access to any accommodations they need,” Karin details. “For Stretch, we’re open to hiring people who might not meet every single qualification but show clear potential to grow in the role.”

To maintain a Data-Driven approach, consistent questions are asked across all candidates, and a small project or assignment is often included to fairly assess skills. And to support the Win Together value, peers are included in the interview process so candidates can meet potential teammates and experience the company’s collaborative environment.

Whether or not someone joins our team, we believe that their interview experience should be rooted in respect and consideration, with our Core Values of Integrity & Accountability setting the standard for the interaction. This hiring methodology allows SureSwift leaders and candidates to start cultivating strong relationships from the very first meeting. 

Keeping SureSwift secure for current and future employees

Just as we maintain a structured hiring process for our candidates, our team takes the same care in keeping our hiring systems secure. All incoming and outgoing emails are monitored for potential phishing scams, with regular updates to ensure the latest security protocols are in place.

As well, our IT team is tuned into the wider world of security, staying up-to-speed on the latest strategies for guarding against bad actors and online misconduct. All company technology is regularly tested for potential vulnerabilities, and SSC employees receive ongoing training in security best practices. Sensitive employee data is protected through secure systems, multi-factor authentication, and centralized access oversight, minimizing any risk of unauthorized entry, even in the case of a phishing attempt. 

With SureSwift’s employees spread remotely across more than 15 time zones, we stress the importance of maintaining powerful safeguards against global security threats. That way, every member of our organization can securely access the tools and information they need, no matter where in the world they’re located.

Protecting yourself and others from remote job scams

Job scams are unfortunately common in today’s remote-first world, but raising awareness can make a difference. One of the best ways to protect yourself and others is to stay informed and speak up when something feels off.

As Karin noted after the recent incident, “The person who alerted SureSwift to the scam was amazing, not just for reaching out to us, but for trying to share their story and help others. They wanted companies to know they were being impersonated and spread the word to protect people going through the same thing.” That kind of proactivity helps prevent others from falling for similar tactics.

You can help by sharing this post with your network, especially with friends or colleagues currently on the job hunt. For additional information, check out Indeed’s latest guide to job scams, or refer to our own social updates on LinkedIn and X to see how we’re spreading awareness.

Recap: How We Hire at SureSwift

Here’s what you can expect after applying to a job at SureSwift Capital and receiving an interview: