Before accepting an Irish job offer, verify the exact legal employer, the person recruiting, the role, work location, contract and any employment-permit requirements. A real CRO registration does not authenticate an email or prove the vacancy is genuine—fraudsters can impersonate established companies.
Stop if money or sensitive data is requested too early
Do not pay for equipment, gift cards, cryptocurrency, training, a “refundable” deposit or an unofficial permit service. Verify the employer independently before sending passport, bank, tax or immigration documents.
Ten checks before accepting
- Get the legal employer name and CRO number. The brand, group and employing company may differ.
- Search the company record. Check status, incorporation date, registered office, directors and filing history.
- Verify the recruiter. Call the employer through a number sourced independently from the message.
- Inspect the email and domain. Look for misspellings, free-mail addresses and lookalike domains.
- Confirm the role exists. Check the employer’s official careers page and ask HR directly.
- Read the contract. Match employer, title, duties, salary, hours, location, start date and signatory.
- Check permits and regulated roles. Use official government or regulator sources.
- Check a recruitment agency. Irish employment agencies must hold the applicable licence; consult the WRC list.
- Never route employer money. A legitimate job should not require you to receive and forward funds or buy equipment with a cheque.
- Keep evidence. Save the vacancy, correspondence, contract and verification notes.
Verify the legal employer
Ask: “Which legal entity will employ and pay me?” Search that exact name and CRO number. Match it to the contract, permit application, payroll information and bank details. A group’s famous parent may not be the employer; a local subsidiary may be responsible.
| Record item | Useful check | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Legal name/CRO number | Does the contract identify a real entity? | A scammer can copy genuine details |
| Status | Is a material CRO status issue recorded? | “Normal” does not authenticate the vacancy |
| Incorporation date | Does legal age match the story? | Business or group history can be older |
| Registered office | Does the legal identity align? | It may be an adviser, not the workplace |
| Directors/filings | Is there a coherent company history? | Recruiters need not be directors |
| Accounts | Is there useful historical financial context? | Accounts can be old, abridged or unavailable |
Confirm the recruiter is authorised
Do not reply to the message to verify itself. Find the company’s official website independently, call its published switchboard and ask for HR or the named person. Check whether the sender’s domain exactly matches the official domain. A display name such as “Company HR” proves nothing.
LinkedIn history and video interviews can add context but can also be faked. Use multiple independent channels. Be especially cautious if all contact stays on encrypted messaging apps, the interview is text-only, or the employer refuses a live conversation.
Job-offer scam warning signs
- an offer arrives without a meaningful interview;
- salary is far above market for vague or simple remote work;
- the sender creates urgency around fees, equipment or documents;
- you must buy equipment from a named vendor or deposit a cheque;
- you are asked to receive, transfer or convert money;
- the domain differs by one character from the genuine company;
- the contract has inconsistent names, addresses or legal terms;
- the “employer” promises a guaranteed permit in exchange for unofficial payment;
- bank or passport data is requested before identity and purpose are established.
Employment permits for non-EEA candidates
Non-EEA nationals generally need a valid employment permit or immigration permission that allows work, unless an exemption applies. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment states that most employment permits depend on a job offer from a bona fide employer registered with Revenue and, where applicable, CRO/RFS, and trading in Ireland.
Use only the official Employment Permits Online system and current Department guidance. Check the permit type, occupation eligibility, remuneration, employer, location and contract. Official rules and thresholds can change, so never rely on an old screenshot or a recruiter’s private payment link. A signed contract is required with a permit application under current official guidance.
Recruitment-agency checks
The Workplace Relations Commission says an employment agency must hold a licence to carry on its business under the Employment Agency Act 1971. Search the current WRC licensed-agency list and match the legal name and address. Then independently confirm which employer will sign the contract and pay salary.
An agency can be genuine while a scammer impersonates it. Registration and licensing checks must be combined with domain, contact and vacancy verification.
Regulated occupations
For roles such as healthcare, financial services, education, security or other regulated work, verify the relevant professional registration, employer authorisation or licence using the official regulator. A CRO company record does not grant sector permission. If the employer claims the job is exempt, ask for the official basis.
What to check in the written offer
- exact legal employer and address;
- job title, duties and reporting line;
- normal place(s) of work and remote-work terms;
- start date, duration and probation;
- salary, payment frequency, hours and benefits;
- holiday, notice, confidentiality and intellectual-property terms;
- permit or registration conditions where applicable;
- name and authority of the signatory.
Employment law requires specified written information at particular times, but a candidate should understand the material terms before relocating, resigning or paying costs. Obtain employment-law or immigration advice for important uncertainties.
If you suspect a fake offer
- stop contact and do not transfer money;
- contact the genuine company through independently sourced details;
- tell your bank immediately if payment or credentials were sent;
- preserve emails, headers, messages, numbers, domains and receipts;
- report suspected fraud to An Garda Síochána and the relevant platform;
- contact the official employment-permit service if permit information was misused;
- replace compromised passwords and monitor identity/financial accounts.
Company verification is one layer
A company search can confirm the entity and expose inconsistencies. It cannot verify a recruiter, promise a safe workplace, validate a role or confirm payment. Combine it with direct employer contact, official permit/regulator checks, a clear contract and your own judgment. See our guides to legal vs trading names and company age.
Sources and editorial review
This guide was reviewed on 20 August 2026 against the Department’s official employment-permit guidance, current employer criteria, the WRC’s employment-agency rules and current licensed-agency list, Garda online-safety guidance and CRO data guidance. It is general information, not employment, immigration or legal advice.