Job offer email red flags

How to read an offer email like an ITF inspector.

What it looks like

An offer letter on a glossy PDF, signed by 'HR Director' with an unverifiable name.

Red flags

• Generic greeting ('Dear seafarer').
• Unverifiable signatory name.
• Salary in non-standard currency or unrealistically high.
• Reply-to a different domain than the From address.
• Attachments only — no plain-text content.
• Demand for immediate response within hours.

How to verify

• Check the email headers for the real sender domain.
• Cross-check the signatory on LinkedIn against the real company's website.
• Reply to the official corporate HR address rather than the recruiter's address.

Last verified 15 days ago