Ryan FowlerYoung people are facing growing risks from increasingly sophisticated AI-powered job scams as unemployment among 16 to 24-year-olds continues to outpace the wider labour market, according to new analysis from BrokerChooser.
The warning comes as UK youth unemployment stands at 16.1%, compared with a national unemployment rate of 5.1%. Against that backdrop, job scam incidents surged by 237% between January and August last year, while almost one-third (31%) of Gen Z job seekers said they had already been targeted by scams.
BrokerChooser said the rapid growth of artificial intelligence is making recruitment fraud harder to detect, with AI-related fraud reportedly increasing by 1,210% in 2025, significantly ahead of the 195% rise recorded in traditional fraud cases.
The forex broker comparison platform warned that fraudsters are increasingly using AI-generated voice calls, deepfake video interviews and realistic impersonations of recruiters, banks and employers to target job seekers.
Adam Nasli, head broker analyst at BrokerChooser, said: “AI scams are becoming more and more sophisticated with fraudsters now able to easily impersonate companies, banks and Government officials with convincing accuracy. People need to equip themselves with the knowledge to distinguish what is real from what is not, as victims can be pushed into rushed decisions under the belief that they are speaking to a genuine market expert or receiving legitimate time-sensitive opportunities.”
BrokerChooser outlined several techniques job seekers can use to identify potential AI-driven scams, including what it described as the “lag trap test”, where rapid follow-up questions can expose delayed or disconnected AI responses during interviews or calls.
The company also advised candidates to test whether video interviewers could interact naturally with their surroundings, warning that AI-generated video can struggle with real-world movement and environmental awareness.
BrokerChooser additionally warned job seekers to closely observe lip movement and blinking during video calls, claiming AI-generated faces often struggle to convincingly synchronise speech patterns and natural facial movements.
Nasli added: “Always take a moment to question, test and verify the identity of who you’re speaking to. If you cannot independently verify their details online, you are most likely dealing with a scam.”
