How to spot a recruitment scam

Fake nursing jobs abroad are common. These are the signs to look for, and what to do if you see one.

Scammers know that nurses want to work abroad. They copy hospital logos, invent agencies and promise fast visas. Here is how to protect yourself.

The golden rule

Real employers do not ask you to pay to get a job. Hospitals pay their own recruitment costs. In the UK, the Gulf states and many other countries, charging workers recruitment fees is against the rules or the law.

You may have to pay for some things yourself, such as an English test, a licensing exam or a credentials check. Pay those only on the official website of the test or regulator, never to an agent.

Warning signs

• You are asked to pay a "registration", "processing", "visa", "medical" or "training" fee to an agent.
• Payment is by Western Union, MoneyGram, gift cards, crypto or a personal bank account.
• The recruiter only talks on WhatsApp or Telegram, or uses a Gmail or Yahoo address.
• They promise a "guaranteed" visa, or say you need no exam, no licence or no English test.
• The pay is much higher than other jobs in the same country.
• They rush you: "only 3 places left", "pay today".
• They ask for your passport, bank details or ID before any interview.
• The hospital's real website does not list the job, or the email domain does not match the hospital.

How to check a job

1. Search for the job on the employer's own website.
2. Call or email the hospital using contact details from its official website (not from the message you received).
3. Check that the agency is licensed in your country and in the destination country.
4. Read our country guides to see what the real process looks like.

What we do

• We collect jobs from known job sources and employer websites, and every listing links to the original post.
• Every day, we check new listings for scam signs and hide anything suspicious.
• Employers who post with us must confirm they never charge candidates.

If something on our site looks wrong, email us and include the job reference shown on the job page. We will check it within 24 hours.