The “recruiter” sounded legitimate, the role sounded perfect, and the only catch was an upfront fee for “training”, “credentials verification”, “equipment” or “onboarding”. Then the job never materialised — or worse, the role was a front for processing scam funds, which is a criminal trap in itself.
The legal context
Genuine Australian recruiters do not charge candidates fees — they’re paid by employers. Any operator collecting payment from a candidate is either operating in a grey area or running a straight scam. Where they’re an Australian-registered entity, the Australian Consumer Law’s prohibition on misleading or deceptive conduct (s 18) applies, alongside statutory guarantees if any “service” was promised. Common-law deceit applies regardless of structure.
Realistic outcomes
If the “recruiter” was an offshore operator using a Gmail address and a fake LinkedIn profile, recovery is unlikely. Be honest about that. But many job scams involve registered Australian entities exploiting vulnerable jobseekers — international students, recent migrants, jobseekers under pressure. For those operators, a Letter of Demand carries real weight and a tribunal claim is genuinely viable.
The document approach
The letter should attach the advertisement, the payment evidence, and any communications. It should cite s 18 of the ACL (misleading and deceptive conduct), the implied contract, and demand a full refund within 14 days, failing which a tribunal claim and a complaint to ASIC or the ACCC will follow.
What Claim Done delivers ($79)
For a flat $79 we draft a tribunal-grade Letter of Demand in your name, citing the right ACL provisions, ready to send.
What to expect after
Send the letter, file with Scamwatch, and report to ReportCyber. If you suspect the role was a money-mule scheme (you were asked to receive and forward funds), stop immediately and tell your bank — you can be charged with money-laundering offences regardless of intent.