Potential job scam while on ESD - Does refusing to engage with suspicious recruiters count as refusing work?

You're absolutely right to be suspicious. This has ALL the hallmarks of a scam. Legitimate recruiters don't use WhatsApp as primary communication, they don't ask if you're "on vacation," and they certainly don't contact you from multiple phone numbers. For ESD purposes, this is NOT refusing suitable work because: 1. No actual job was ever offered 2. No interview was scheduled 3. No job details were provided despite your requests When you file your weekly claim, if it asks if you refused any work, you can honestly answer "no" because this wasn't a legitimate job offer. If you want to be extra cautious, keep screenshots of these communications to show you tried to get legitimate job information. I'd recommend reporting this to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and possibly to LinkedIn as well. Stay safe!

omg same thing happened to my roomate!!! some "recruiter" from Amazon contacted him on linkedin then wanted to talk on whatsapp. then they tried to get him to buy equipment for a "home office" with a fake check. total scam!! block them all!!!

This is 100% a scam. I work in recruiting and no legitimate company will: - Switch to WhatsApp for professional communication - Contact you from multiple phone numbers - Ask vague questions about your location/vacation status - Refuse to provide actual job details Regarding ESD: This does NOT count as refusing work. There was no actual job offer to refuse. To be considered "suitable work" under ESD rules, there needs to be a clear job description, wage information, and a formal offer - none of which happened here. If you're concerned, in the section where you list your job search activities, you could mention something like "Responded to potential recruitment opportunity but determined it was fraudulent after suspicious communication patterns." Definitely report this to LinkedIn as a suspicious account. You might also want to report to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) since this appears to be a coordinated scam.

Block them all!!! its defintely a scam. they did this to my brother and ended up asking for his ssn and bank info for "direct deposit setup" before he even had an interview!! the ESD wont care just say NO to if u refused work because this isnt work its FRAUD

I work at an employment agency and can confirm this is 100% a scam. No legitimate company hires this way. For your weekly claim, you don't need to report this since it wasn't a real job offer. ESD defines refusing work as turning down a legitimate, suitable employment offer - this doesn't qualify. If you're really worried about reaching ESD to ask about this specific situation (their guidance can be very helpful for unusual cases), you might want to check out Claimyr.com - it's a service that helps you get through to ESD agents when their phone lines are jammed. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ?si=26TzE_zGms-DODN3 that shows how it works. I had a client use it when they needed clarification on a similar situation with potential fraud. Make sure to report this scam to LinkedIn, the FTC, and possibly your local police non-emergency line if they asked about when you'd be away from home (that's concerning).

The ESD actually has specific guildlines about what counts as a "refusal of suitable work" and this AIN'T it! You need to get a BONA FIDE job offer for it to count - not some rando WhatsApp messages!!! I went through something similar last year when I got fake emails from "Amazon" trying to hire me. This is 1000% a SCAM and they're probably trying to rob your house or steal your identity!!! NEVER tell strangers on the internet when your house will be empty!!! Report them to the POLICE not just ESD!!!

i think they might be trying to get you to buy gift cards. my cousin got this same thing and eventually they asked him to buy gift cards for "software" that he would be "reimbursed for" in his first check lol

Regarding your weekly claim, here's what you should do: 1. Answer "No" to the question about refusing work 2. In your work search log, do NOT include this interaction as one of your job search activities (it wasn't legitimate) 3. Keep detailed notes about this interaction separate from your claim, just in case you need to explain later 4. Continue your regular job search activities as required by ESD The key thing to understand is that ESD's "suitable work" definition includes legitimacy of the offer. A scam is not a legitimate offer and thus cannot be "suitable work" by definition. If you're particularly concerned, you can always add a note in the comments section of your weekly claim explaining that you encountered what appeared to be fraudulent recruitment activity but are continuing your legitimate job search.

One more thing I forgot to mention - you should check your credit reports right away if you shared any personal information with these scammers. Even confirming your full name, address, or that you're a US citizen could be used for identity theft. You can get free weekly credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, and it might be worth putting a fraud alert on your credit file as a precaution.