Job Seeker Safety Guidelines

Searching for a new job should be an exciting experience. Most employers and recruiters are genuine, but unfortunately, job scams and fraudulent offers do exist. These guidelines can help you recognize potential warning signs and protect yourself while searching and applying for jobs on ITPro.lk.

1. Never pay to get a job

Be very cautious if an employer, recruiter, or another person asks you to make a payment before you can get a job.

Be especially careful with requests for:

• Registration or application fees
• Interview or processing fees
• Training or certification fees that must be paid upfront
• Equipment or software payments before employment
• Deposits or payments to secure a job offer
• Money transfers to an individual claiming to be a recruiter

A request for payment does not automatically prove that a job is fraudulent, but it is a strong reason to stop and independently verify the opportunity.

2. Protect your personal information

Be careful about the information you share during the recruitment process. A legitimate employer may need information about your qualifications and experience, but they should not need your passwords or security credentials.

Never share:

• Your passwords
• One-time passwords (OTPs)
• Online banking credentials
• Credit or debit card details
• PINs or security codes
• Private account recovery information

Also be cautious when someone asks you to send copies of identity documents, financial information, or other sensitive information before you have verified who they are and why the information is required.

3. Watch for suspicious job offers

Some fraudulent job advertisements are designed to look like genuine employment opportunities. Pay attention to warning signs that don't seem right.

Some common warning signs include:

• Unusually high salaries for the required experience or qualifications
• Promises of large amounts of money for very little work
• Very vague or incomplete job descriptions
• Pressure to accept an offer immediately
• Requests for money before employment
• Requests for financial or sensitive personal information
• Recruiters who refuse to provide verifiable company information
• Communication that feels unusual or inconsistent with a normal recruitment process

One warning sign alone does not necessarily mean a job is fraudulent. Consider the overall situation and verify the opportunity before proceeding.

4. Verify the company

Before accepting an offer or sharing sensitive information, take some time to verify the company and the person contacting you.

You can:

• Visit the company's official website.
• Check whether the company has a legitimate online presence.
• Look for consistent company information across different sources.
• Check whether the recruiter's email address matches the company's official domain.
• Contact the company through contact information published on its official website if you have doubts.

Don't assume that a company is legitimate simply because its name appears in a job advertisement or because someone claims to represent that company.

5. Be careful with external application links

Some employers on ITPro.lk may direct you to an external website to complete your application. This is normal for many organizations, but you should still check where you are being directed.

Before submitting your information:

• Check the website address carefully.
• Make sure the website belongs to the company or a legitimate recruitment platform.
• Be cautious of websites that imitate well-known companies.
• Don't enter passwords or financial information into suspicious websites.
• Make sure you understand who will receive the information you submit.

If an external application page looks suspicious or asks for information that doesn't seem relevant to the job, stop and verify it before continuing.

6. Watch out for fake recruiters

Scammers may pretend to be HR managers, recruiters, or employees of well-known companies.

Be cautious if someone contacts you unexpectedly with a job offer, particularly if they immediately ask for money, sensitive information, or personal account details.

If you receive an unexpected offer from a company, consider contacting the company directly using contact information from its official website to confirm that the person and opportunity are genuine.

7. Be careful when communicating outside ITPro.lk

Recruitment conversations may continue through email, phone, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, or other communication platforms after you apply for a job.

Remember that once communication moves outside ITPro.lk, you should continue to apply the same level of caution. Don't assume that a person is trustworthy simply because they contacted you after you applied for a job on ITPro.lk.

8. Report suspicious jobs to ITPro.lk

If you believe a job advertisement on ITPro.lk is misleading, fraudulent, inappropriate, or otherwise suspicious, please report it to the ITPro.lk team.

Reports help us identify potentially problematic job advertisements and take appropriate action.

You can use the Report Job option available on job advertisements to send a report to our team.

What should you do if you suspect a scam?

1. Stop communicating with the person if you feel uncomfortable.
2. Do not send money or financial information.
3. Do not share passwords, OTPs, or security credentials.
4. Don't click suspicious links or download unexpected files.
5. Verify the company independently.
6. Report the suspicious job to ITPro.lk if it was posted on our platform.
7. If you have already lost money or shared sensitive information, contact the relevant financial institution or authorities as soon as possible.