7 in 10 Gen Z jobseekers apply without checking the job is real

The numbers

Source: Barclays Scams Bulletin, 10 September 2026.

Barclays published its Scams Bulletin on 10 September 2026, drawing on consumer research by Opinium carried out between 14 and 18 August 2026 among 2,000 UK adults, including 312 Gen Z adults aged 18 to 29, weighted to be representative. The headline finding is that 69 percent of Gen Z jobseekers have applied for roles without carrying out checks first, compared with 51 percent of those aged 30 and over. That gap of 18 percentage points sits alongside a wider pattern of financial pressure and volume applications that shapes how this age group approaches the jobs market.

Financial pressure is close to universal in the survey. 79 percent of Gen Z adults report facing some form of financial pressure, with building savings cited by 39 percent, everyday living costs by 29 percent and paying for food by 27 percent. 62 percent looked for work in the last 12 months, applying for an average of 34 roles each, and 12 percent applied for 100 or more. 52 percent failed to secure a role. 78 percent found the process harder than expected, against 69 percent of over-30s, and 75 percent applied for jobs they would not otherwise have considered. 75 percent felt pressure to respond quickly, and 83 percent are seeking other ways to make money. Each of those figures describes a market in which speed and volume are normal, which is the environment in which unchecked applications become routine.

The scams

45 percent of Gen Z believe they have been targeted by a job scam, compared with 20 percent of over-30s. The approaches arrived by email for 23 percent and through job or recruitment sites for 17 percent. The lures followed a recognisable pattern: roles offering high pay for 28 percent, a quick or easy application for 24 percent and flexible or remote work for 21 percent. Once contact was established, 32 percent were asked for a CV or personal information and 22 percent for an identity document. 80 percent of those targeted believe the scammer used AI, including 24 percent who cited a fake job advert, and 67 percent believe AI is making job scams harder to spot. 74 percent believe the jobs market makes people more open to scams.

The claims data points the same way. Barclays current account customer data for January to June 2026, compared with the same period in 2025, shows Gen Z scam claims rose 12.4 percent year on year, while the value of their claims rose 22.7 percent. Paul Davis, Head of Economic Crime at Barclays, said: 'A job scam does not need to take money straight away to cause harm. Requests for a CV, identity document or bank details may appear to be part of a normal application, but can give criminals the information they need to impersonate somebody or commit further fraud.' The point is that the first loss is often data rather than cash, and the consequences surface later as impersonation, credit applications or further fraud built on a real person's details.

Money mules and the law

22 percent of Gen Z would consider an offer from a stranger to receive money into their account and transfer it elsewhere, against 8 percent of over-30s. Awareness of the consequences is partial: 33 percent knew money muling could lead to a criminal record, and 28 percent knew it could lead to a fine or prison. Money laundering offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 carry a maximum sentence of 14 years. Separately, banks can close a mule's account and record a CIFAS marker, which can affect access to bank accounts, credit and mobile contracts for up to six years. The marker is not a criminal penalty, but it can shape a person's financial life long after any investigation ends.

The reimbursement rules do not provide a route out. Payment Systems Regulator APP fraud reimbursement rules, in force from 7 October 2024, exclude claims where the customer acted with gross negligence or was complicit in the fraud. A person who knowingly moved money for a stranger falls outside the protection rather than inside it. Paul Davis said: 'Receiving and transferring money for a stranger is not a harmless way to earn a fee. It may mean moving criminal funds and can lead to a frozen account or criminal penalties.' The Barclays Financial Confidence Index, based on Opinium research carried out from 24 to 28 April 2026 among 2,000 adults, found that people who lost money to fraud took an average of 7.5 months to regain financial confidence, and 24 percent had not regained it.

How to check a job

Barclays sets out SAFE guidance: Search through official sources; Ask someone you trust; Flag requests for personal information or money, because genuine employers do not ask for upfront payment for training, checks or equipment; and Exit and report. Oscar Rodriguez, VP Trust Product at LinkedIn, said about 90 percent of reported scams involve requests to move off-platform, and LinkedIn recommends verification badges and keeping conversations on the platform. The practical test is whether the recruiter can be found through a company's own website and whether the conversation stays inside the platform where it started. A request to move to a personal messaging account, or to pay for equipment before a start date, is the moment to stop.

Reporting matters because it feeds the data that identifies patterns. Suspected fraud can be reported to Action Fraud through Report Fraud, and the bank should be told as well, particularly if account details or identity documents have already been shared. The start of the student term is peak season for this kind of approach, when large numbers of people are applying at once, often for the first time, and are responding quickly to anything that looks like an opportunity. The 69 percent figure for unchecked applications is the number to hold on to: it describes a habit, not a character flaw, and it is the habit that the checks are designed to interrupt.

Source: Barclays newsroom, 10 September 2026.

Related coverage on Kael Tripton: APP Fraud Refunds: Why Lloyds Won't Repay Godwin Victims, APP Fraud in the UK: What UK Finance's 2026 Report Shows, Student Finance Dates: When to Apply, What Evidence You Need and When the Money Arrives, How Much Student Finance Will I Get? Tuition Loans, Maintenance Loans and Household Income, CIFAS Marker UK: What It Is, Why It Is Added, How to Check and How to Get It Removed.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage of Gen Z jobseekers apply without checking a job is real?

69 percent of Gen Z jobseekers have applied for roles without carrying out checks first, compared with 51 percent of those aged 30 and over, according to the Barclays Scams Bulletin published on 10 September 2026.

How many Gen Z adults believe they have been targeted by a job scam?

45 percent of Gen Z believe they have been targeted by a job scam, compared with 20 percent of over-30s. Approaches came by email for 23 percent and through job or recruitment sites for 17 percent.

What is a money mule and what is the penalty?

A money mule receives money into their account and transfers it elsewhere for someone else. Money laundering offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 carry a maximum sentence of 14 years. Banks can also close the account and record a CIFAS marker, which can affect access to bank accounts, credit and mobile contracts for up to six years.

Does APP fraud reimbursement cover money moved knowingly?

No. Payment Systems Regulator APP fraud reimbursement rules, in force from 7 October 2024, exclude claims where the customer acted with gross negligence or was complicit in the fraud.

How can a job offer be checked?

Barclays SAFE guidance is to Search through official sources, Ask someone you trust, Flag requests for personal information or money, and Exit and report. LinkedIn recommends verification badges and keeping conversations on the platform, because about 90 percent of reported scams involve requests to move off-platform.