You’ve probably figured it out, but here’s confirmation: That random job opportunity, packed with attractive pay and benefits, that you received via text message from a “recruiter” isn’t legitimate.
It’s just part of the latest phishing campaign authored by scammers.
New data from the Federal Trade Commission, as reported by KABC in Los Angeles, reveals Americans lost $342 million in the first half of 2025 as a result of more than 235,000 text message scams.
The McIntire School’s Chris Maurer has extensive experience in cybersecurity-related fields, including risk management, vulnerability assessment, security awareness and training, business continuity planning and IT governance. (Contributed photo)
“In quarter one of this year,” the news story reads, “the FTC says there were 29,000 reports of job or employment text scams.”
UVA Today caught up with Chris Maurer, a cybersecurity expert with the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, to learn more about the scam, how it compares to others, and what you can do to protect yourself.
Q. Are scammers trying to take advantage of the job market and economic climate with these texts?
A. Scammers continuously look for creative ways to trick individuals, and they often find inspiration in changing economic conditions and social trends. So, while I cannot say the increased frequency of fake job offer messages is directly tied to current economic conditions, there is most likely some link.
Q. This scamming attempt comes on the heels of the toll text phishing campaign. Are the campaigns related in any way?
A. To my knowledge, there is no concrete evidence that suggests the same individuals or groups are responsible for both campaigns, but I am sure there is overlap. One thing that hurts scammers is awareness of the scam, so when one campaign gets media attention and the public notices, fewer people fall for the scam. As such, they will move on to a new topic.
Q. What’s similar about the two campaigns?
A. The scam works in much the same way: Unsolicited messages are sent to many people. As soon as someone responds, the scammer will try to keep the individual “on the hook.” After attempting to gain some level of trust with the target, the scammer will then request a payment be sent directly to an account they own.
Q. What’s different about the two campaigns?
A. Fake job texts tend to rely less on fear appeals than other types of scam text messages. A fake toll scam is very direct in that they threaten to take away your driver’s license or impose a significant penalty if payment is not made immediately. So those scams rely heavily on instilling fear and immediacy.
