How to check if a job posting is real

Most job postings are real. But fake ones can look very convincing, and scammers sometimes use the names of real Canadian companies (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre). A few minutes of checking before you apply can save you a lot of trouble.

On ZeroExperiences, every job links back to the original posting, and you always apply on the employer's own site. We never ask you for money or personal details. Still, the steps below are worth knowing for any job you find, wherever you find it.

We checked these facts on October 12, 2026. Follow the links to the official pages for the latest details.

Step 1: Find the job on the employer's own website

Search for the company yourself. Don't use the link or phone number in a message you received. Type the company name into a search engine and find its official website.
Look for a "Careers" or "Jobs" page. Large employers usually post their openings there.
Find the same job. Check that the title, location, and pay match what you saw.
Check the web address. Look closely at the address bar. Watch for lookalike addresses that are spelled slightly differently from the company's real site.

Small businesses may not have a careers page. In that case, call the business using the phone number on its own website or a sign at its location, and ask whether the job is real.

Step 2: Check that the business is registered

Government business registries can show you whether a company exists and is active.

BC: Use OrgBook BC to find information about organizations legally registered in BC, including the names they do business under (Government of BC).
Ontario: Anyone can search the Ontario Business Registry for free to get basic information about a business. More detailed reports cost a fee.
Canada-wide: Some companies are registered federally instead. Use the "Search for a federal corporation" tool on the Corporations Canada site. Public details include the registered office address and the names of directors (Corporations Canada).

A large chain may be registered in another province or federally, so try more than one registry if you don't find it right away.

Remember: a registered company name does not prove a job offer is real, because scammers sometimes use the names of real companies. The registry check helps you spot a company that doesn't exist. Step 1 and Step 3 help you spot someone pretending to be a real company.

Step 3: Check the contact details

Email address. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) lists a free web-based email address, instead of the company's own email domain, as a warning sign (CAFC). For example, a recruiter for a big chain should not write from a free email account.
Phone number. Call the main number on the company's official website, not the number in the message. Ask whether the person who contacted you works there.
Address. Look up the work address on a map. Is it a real store, warehouse, or office?
Chat apps only. Be careful if someone will only talk by text or WhatsApp. Read Text and WhatsApp job scams.

Step 4: Read the posting closely

Pay. In BC, most employers must include the expected wage or a wage range in their publicly advertised job postings. The province gives "$20 - $25 per hour" as an example of what counts. A vague phrase like "competitive wage" does not count. Generic "help wanted" posters that don't advertise a specific job are not covered (Government of BC).

In Ontario, employers with 25 or more employees must include the expected pay in publicly advertised job postings. They must also say whether the job is an existing vacancy and whether they use artificial intelligence (AI) in hiring. They can't list Canadian experience as a requirement in the posting or the application form (Ontario).

Missing pay information doesn't prove a job is fake. But pay that is much higher than similar jobs, for very little work, is a warning sign.

Duties and location. A real posting usually says what you will do, where you will work, and when. Be careful with vague postings that promise easy money for "simple tasks" online.

Step 5: Watch how they hire you

Slow down if any of these happen (CAFC):

You get a job offer for a job you never applied for.
You are asked to pay a deposit, a fee, or for training or equipment.
You are asked to download software or join a platform to do "tasks".
You see earnings on a website or app but can't withdraw them.
You are asked to receive money in your bank account and send it on.
You are asked to recruit other people.

Your SIN. Service Canada says you don't have to give your Social Insurance Number (SIN) to fill out a job application. An employer needs it only after you are hired (Service Canada).

The interview. A real employer will usually want to talk with you before hiring you, by phone, by video, or in person. Being "hired" after a short text chat is a red flag.

Quick checklist

Check	Good sign	Warning sign
Careers page	The same job is listed on the employer's site	You can't find it anywhere official
Registry	The business shows up as active	No record at all
Email	Comes from the company's own domain	Free web-based email
Pay	A clear wage or range	Very high pay for very little work
Hiring	An interview, then a job offer	Hired by text, then asked to pay or move money
Personal details	SIN and bank details asked for after you are hired	Asked for your SIN, ID, or banking before an interview

If something feels wrong

Stop. Don't send money, ID, or personal details.
Report the posting to the job site where you found it.
Report the scam to the CAFC. Our guide to job scams explains how.
If you already sent money or deposited a cheque, read Fake cheque and money mule job scams and call your bank right away.

Next steps

Learn the warning signs: Job scams that target first-time job seekers
Got a job offer by text? Read Text and WhatsApp job scams
Apply with confidence: How to apply for jobs online at big chains
Browse entry-level jobs in Metro Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area