An unexpected job text says ‘reply YES’: what to check before you respond

Why a simple reply can start the wrong conversation

In April 2026, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission warned about a text-message job scam in which a supposed recruiter offers a generic remote role and asks the recipient to reply with “YES” or “INTERESTED.” The first reply can confirm that a phone number is active and open the door to requests for money, personal information or online tasks.

This warning does not mean every text from a recruiter is fraudulent. It does mean that an unexpected message is a lead to verify, not an offer to accept. A company name, logo or attractive pay figure can be copied in seconds.

Pause before you confirm interest

Do not click the link in the message or continue to a new app simply because the sender creates urgency. Save the message, sender number and any attachment first. Then search for the organisation yourself and open its official website from a trusted route.

Look for the role on the employer’s careers page or on a known platform. Compare the title, location, duties and application domain. If the role cannot be found, that is not automatic proof of fraud because vacancies close, but it is a reason to ask for a verifiable source before sharing anything.

• Check the full phone number or email address, not only the display name.
• Do not send a CV, identity document, bank details or one-time code in the first reply.
• Treat a request to move to Telegram, WhatsApp or a private chat as a reason to verify, not as proof of legitimacy.
• Ask for the employer’s official vacancy URL and the name of the hiring organisation.

Recognise the money and task pivot

Many fake-recruiter conversations change shape after a short greeting. You may be asked to deposit a cheque, buy equipment from a named supplier, pay for access or complete rating and optimisation tasks. The FTC says honest employers do not ask candidates to pay to get paid; an available bank balance does not make a cheque genuine.

Stop if the conversation requires you to move money, buy gift cards, send cryptocurrency, receive packages or install remote-access software. Do not keep negotiating with a message that has already crossed that line.

If you already replied or shared information

Keep screenshots, sender details, links and payment records. If you shared a password, change it from the service’s official website and review active sessions and forwarding rules. If you shared banking information or sent money, contact the bank or payment provider immediately and ask what can still be stopped or reversed.

Report the message to the platform where you received it and to the appropriate fraud authority in your country. Reporting helps the service connect related campaigns, even when you did not lose money.

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