Got hired under a fake identity through a shady “recruiter”, how do I fix this without losing the job???

Posted by Mindless-Item-5136@reddit | ExperiencedDevs | View on Reddit | 37 comments

im an IT engineer and I got into a really messy situation. A couple months ago, a “recruiter team” reached out offering to connect me with companies. I quickly realized they werent legit, they use fake identities to apply for jobs and then have real developers (like me,) pass interviews under those identities. I still went along with it just to practice interviews and see what happens. i passed the interviews and actually got an offer from a remote company. Now the problem --->

.the company knows me under a fake identit .the “recruiters” want 50% of my salar . I don’t trust them at all (they could take money and disappear or blackmail me)

what i want is ------> .Either keep the job under my real identity and get 100% salary .or at least not be controlled by these middlemen

I haven’t started working yet and no salary has been paid so far.

I know I messed up by going along with it ( I NEED THIS JOB TRULY), so I’m trying to handle this in the least damaging way possible. Please help

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Mindless-Item-5136@reddit (OP)

so i knew these guys were scammers (so far i didn't do anything scammy or illegal), now i have to either tell everything about these guys to the company (and maybe the police as well) but also i want to keep this job

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dbxp@reddit

Well you've just incriminated yourself with this comment

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Nice_Impression@reddit

I‘d really come clean with the company and ditch the recruiters. Nothing to lose, since you’ll have to provide your real identity for getting hired anyways.

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Wide-Pop6050@reddit

I would assume this company is a lost cause and not come clean with them. Just reject the job. This is borderline not legal

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RandomLettersJDIKVE@reddit

Are you sure you didn't do anything scammy or illegal?

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Material_Policy6327@reddit

I would be worried about if they provided false employment info and laws in whatever country they are in.

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willwc@reddit

Interviewing under a false identity is definitely scammy, if not outright illegal depending on the locality. Just to get this straight, you went from just wanting to practice interviews to "I NEED THIS JOB TRULY" and the only way to practice was by teaming up with known scammers?

You should definitely come clean, if only to minimize your legal vulnerability when (not if) the company finds out. Don't expect to keep the job - if lying to them about your identity isn't already disqualifying, your decision-making in getting involved with a known scam should be enough.

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Refwah@reddit

Speak to the company that you are actively defrauding

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aioli_boi@reddit

So you committed a crime and now you want us to help you get out if it?

engineered_academic@reddit

You need a lawyer, now. What you did is identity fraud, and you could not only be fired, criminal consequences could also emerge from this if handled improperly. I would just honestly quit. You can't use this job in a future reference and the longer you go on the more damage you will do to your career.

CodelinesNL@reddit

What you did was illegal. Period. You're an adult and should know better. Your main concern is the legal implications. You can forget about keeping that job, and no one who saw your face will ever want to work with you again.

NickW1343@reddit

wtf are you up how'd this happen

pydry@reddit

my suspicion is that the job is american but OP isnt.

That’s what I am wondering

CarefullEugene@reddit

He's the reason return to office is a thing.

The remote tech job pipeline is filled with A.I scams like these.

GreatValueProducts@reddit

Our interviews now require people coming into our office to do a zoom calls because of past scams like this lol.

throwaway_0x90@reddit

LOL ggs, you're finished.

wtf are you based in the states?

7375636B6D796469636B@reddit

Probably India. Had something similar happen at our company.

RandomPantsAppear@reddit

Armenia

honestduane@reddit

There are plenty of Americans that can do this work. You don’t need to hire anybody offshore to do it.

Well, you’ve committed identity fraud which is punishable by 10 years in jail and $250,000 worth of fines in America and so if you’re on a visa or even an HD you’re basically just gonna get sent home but if you’re an American citizen in that case then you’re just gonna go to jail and at this point, you should just admit to it and turn yourself into the police, take the L because you f*cked up.

Reach out to the company, let them know what happened and try to be as humble as possible.

I'd tell them that the company sprung the fake name on you at the last minute but you needed the practice so you thought you'd go ahead.

As an employer who recently got candidates from candidates like these I don't think I would have responded positively to this. But it's worth a try I guess

originalchronoguy@reddit

Same. I would not react too kindly to this

kayakyakr@reddit

This is the least unethical, most likely way to handle it where OP keeps the job. Contact the hiring company directly and tell them that you were being scammed via a false identity and now you are being extorted for 50% of what they're paying to continue to operate as this false identity. Say you refuse to work for the scammers. Provide documentation to prove you are who you are.

Cut all ties with the scammers and like pydry said, get the police involved if they start threatening you.

And make sure the company is legit :)

ReservoirBaws@reddit

Is something wrong with your real identity?

techno_wizard_lizard@reddit

There’s no way to tell the company your real name is different and that you want to change it.

Cut your loses and move along. Next time don’t waste your time with these things. The company they made the offer will not take you knowing you deceived them.

Just tell the company you are not accepting the offer - and provide them with details of the scam so they won’t hire someone bad for the role or worse, someone working for a foreign bad actor.

deathclient@reddit

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Identity theft is serious and playing along with it is also part of the crime. The only reasonable thing to do is to not go ahead with the job, cut ties with the company and find genuine ways next time.

OP, come clean. That's how you fix it. If they really liked you then they will understand why you did what you did (I'm assuming you weren't born with money and really wanted that sweet sweet usd) and they will keep you.

obelix_dogmatix@reddit

are you kidding me?!

Wide_Obligation4055@reddit

So they have the job, you don't, you have to walk away now and either inform the police or threaten to if they ever contact you again. They can.find someone else to do the job.

You have proved you can get an IT job, start applying to them and get one, as you, without using any recruiters. That job isn't yours.

matthkamis@reddit

I would go to the police, isn’t this extortion? Did you sign anything?

savinger@reddit

Cut contact with shady recruiter. Come clean with the company. 99% chance you’ll lose the job. Nothing else to do that won’t land you in deeper shit.

Yep pretty much this. Coming clean will at least MAYBE save them from legal issues

Choice_Supermarket_4@reddit

I literally just had someone set up an interview with me today (I have a freelance portfolio/resume page) and it was for something called "Proxy Caller" where they do the opposite side of the supply: use MY identity to get non-US citizens a job. I cancelled that shit as quick as he sent more info.