According to Adecco, cyber fraud in recruitment is on the rise, and because of this the human resources consultancy recommends that candidates always verify the source of the job offer, not pay to secure a position, and report suspicious messages.

"The practice is simple but effective: cybercriminals pose as trustworthy companies or recruiters and contact candidates via WhatsApp, sharing fake job offers with dubious links, requests for personal information, or demands for payment to secure positions," Adecco explains in a note sent to newsrooms.

"The informal tone of the messages and the popularity of the platform make fraud more difficult to detect and easier to escalate," adds the consultancy, which assures that this phenomenon is increasingly frequent in Portugal and globally, representing "a real threat" to both candidates and companies whose identities are abused.

Given this situation, Adecco emphasises that "it is essential to strengthen digital literacy and promote safe behaviour," recommending five best practices to candidates.

First, always verify the origin of the offer, that is, confirm that contacts come from official sources (such as institutional emails). Second, do not share personal data via WhatsApp. And if the message seems suspicious, the consultant recommends that the candidate report it and block the contact.

On the other hand, Adecco emphasises that legitimate recruitment processes "never require advance payments," so it advises candidates never to pay to secure a specific position.

Another recommendation is that candidates learn about the process of the company that appears to be offering the job opportunity. "Knowing how a company recruits, what steps it follows, and through what means it communicates can help detect fraud attempts," the consultant emphasises.

"Securing the recruitment experience is now a central pillar of talent management. In addition to protecting their own systems, organisations have a responsibility to communicate transparently with candidates, ensure the legitimacy of contacts, and promote cybersecurity as part of their culture," concludes Adecco.