How to avoid job scams in Egypt

The rule: never pay to get a job

A real employer or recruiter earns from hiring you, not from charging you. Talent Finders never charges candidates: applying, the voice interview and our help until you start are free, because the companies that hire pay us. Our recruiters never ask candidates for money either.

So if anyone asks you to pay before you start work, treat it as a scam, whatever they call the payment:

• “Training fees”, or a course you must buy to be hired
• Registration, application or file-opening fees
• Deposits for a uniform, a headset, a laptop or a desk
• Payment for a “guaranteed” interview or a place on a list
• Any request to receive money and pass it on to someone else

Signs an offer is fake

Real offers name the company, the pay, the hours and the requirements. Slow down if you notice any of these:

• No company name, or a description so vague it could be any job
• Pay that sounds far too good for little work and no requirements
• Pressure to decide today, pay now or “lose your place”
• An “interview” that's only a few chat messages, with an offer straight after
• Requests for passwords, verification codes, bank card details or access to your banking app
• A job offer by message when you never applied, with no clear answer about how they got your number

How to check a Talent Finders job

Our jobs live on talent-finders.net. Check the address in your browser before you apply, and watch for look-alike names. Every job page shows the pay, hours, setup and requirements the company set.

Recruiters who work with us share jobs with a personal link and a code that starts with TF. When you open a recruiter's link, the job page shows your Talent Finders recruiter's first name and code. They help you apply, and they never charge you.

Our process is the same for everyone: a two-minute form, a short voice interview on your phone or computer, then a WhatsApp message on the number you applied with if you're a fit. You don't need a CV. We arrange your interview with the company and stay with you until you start, and at no step do we ask you for money.

Protect your accounts and your money

Scammers don't always ask for a fee up front. Some want access to your accounts or your identity, which can cost you more later:

• Never share a password, a one-time code sent by text message, or your bank card number and PIN, with anyone, for any job.
• Never send money by mobile wallet or bank transfer to “unlock” a job, a salary or a delivery.
• Share copies of your national ID only with a company that has actually offered you a job.
• Don't install apps or log in through links sent by someone you haven't checked.

Jobs shared on social media

Jobs are often shared on Facebook and in WhatsApp groups, including by recruiters who work with us. That's normal; what matters is where the link leads. Before you fill anything in, check that a Talent Finders link opens on talent-finders.net and that the job shows the company's pay, hours and requirements.

Be careful with a post that's only a screenshot and a phone number, with “jobs” that skip the interview entirely, and with forms that ask for your ID or bank details before anyone has talked to you about the work.

If something feels wrong

Stop, and don't pay. A real recruiter won't mind you taking time to check. Take screenshots of the messages, the phone number and any payment details they sent. If someone asks you for money in Talent Finders' name, or says they're one of our recruiters and wants a fee, tell us on WhatsApp so we can look into it.

If you've already paid or shared your bank details, contact your bank straight away and report it to the police. Then tell friends who are looking for work, so they know the signs too.