🚨 Recruiter Scam Warning: Why Asking for a 1099 Tax Form is the Critical Red Flag

I landed in Copenhagen on August 31st, 2025, in the middle of a brutal job search. When an email arrived from a recruiter at **Rose International** for a Data Labeling Analyst role with **Meta**, I was unguarded. This is the story of how a sophisticated scam unfolded, and the one request that immediately revealed their goal: **stealing my tax documents.**

The Setup: Jet Lag, Desperation, and a Perfect Offer

My flight from New York City had been delayed, and I arrived at Kastrup Airport with a week of jet lag ahead of me. As anyone in a tough job market knows, you seize every opportunity. A few days after arriving, I got an email from **Ali Farhan**, a recruiter claiming to be from **Rose International**.

The opportunity was for a **Danish Bi-Lingual Data Labeling Analyst** role for a client later revealed to be **Meta**. The details were highly specific and believable: an onsite position in Menlo Park, CA, and a rate of **$28.00/hour**. I spent a dedicated hour revising my resume, eager not to miss the chance.

The Phishing Phase: Building Trust and Gathering Data

The process dragged on for weeks, intentionally building a sense of legitimacy. I had to confirm my U.S. Citizenship and my location (I lied and gave a friend's NYC address, still feeling vulnerable). Ali even sent back my resume, perfectly **revised and tailored** to match the job description, a common psychological trick to make the candidate feel invested and close to an offer.

I missed several calls from his "boss," **Puja**, creating a false sense of urgency and fear of missing out. The final step was a conversation with Puja where she confirmed my employment history before dropping the ultimate request.

🚨 The Critical Red Flag: They Demanded My 1099 or Paystub

Puja told me Meta wanted to do a background check and asked for proof that I worked at the previous employers on my resume. Specifically, she requested either a **W-2, a 1099, or a paystub** to verify my previous employment.

Other Warnings and Final Action

I was in front of my screen when I got a message from a friend in California. The first thing he said after I told him the names involved was a strong cultural warning: "Any recruiter that's Indian or Pakistani is a scam." While that is a harsh generalization and many legitimate companies outsource recruiting, it reflects a common experience of people targeted by international fraud rings.

According to another friend who experienced a similar attack, most of these scammers are on **LinkedIn** to find targets and gather data, proving that vigilance is required even on professional networking sites.

After an hour of researching and thinking about the matter, I sent an email back to Ali Farhan: **"I'm sorry I don't have any documents."**

I never heard back.

In Conclusion: Always Remain Vigilant

In a tough market, it’s easy to let desperation cloud your judgment. But if instinctively you feel it’s not right, **trust it**. Scammers are experts at creating false websites and faking professional communication.

🔑 Your Job Search Security Checklist

• **Verify the Domain:** Check the recruiter's email domain against the company's official website. Slight misspellings are a huge red flag.
• **Never Send Tax or ID Documents:** W-2s, 1099s, driver’s licenses, or Social Security numbers are **NEVER** required pre-offer.
• **Background Checks are Post-Offer:** Legitimate companies only run background checks *after* you have signed an offer letter.
• **Avoid Google Voice Numbers:** Be extremely skeptical of recruiters using VOIP numbers instead of a standard corporate line.