When Job Scams Meet ADHD: What You Need to Know (And How to Stay Safe)

Seth Rotman
May 20
3 min read

Scams targeting job seekers are on the rise. They’re getting more sophisticated, more personal—and more dangerous. For professionals navigating ADHD, especially those newly diagnosed or still learning how their brain works, these scams can be even more devastating.

This post is both a public service announcement and a deeper look at how neurodivergence can make you more vulnerable—and what you can do about it.

The New Face of Job Scams

Today’s scammers aren’t always asking you to wire money to a prince. They’re posing as recruiters, HR reps, or “talent acquisition” specialists. They offer remote positions with great pay, flexible schedules, and an easy application process. Sounds ideal, right?

Then comes the twist:

👉🏽 “We just need a $50 background check fee.”

👉🏽 “Click this link to schedule your onboarding.”

👉🏽 “You shouldn’t optimize your resume by yourself—it won’t comply with modern hiring systems. We’ll give your resume a VIP review and overhaul, so everyone sees it… for just $97.”

It’s subtle. It’s emotional. And it’s designed to work fast—before you stop to think twice.

ADHD and the Hidden Risk

If you’re living with unmanaged or under-supported ADHD, you already know that the world isn’t built for the way your brain operates. Here’s why scams hit harder:

🧠 Rejection Sensitivity

Many adults with ADHD experience Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD). After days or weeks of being ignored or rejected by real employers, a scam that “wants you” feels like emotional relief. It’s easy to say yes just to escape the no’s.

⏱ Impulsivity and Time Blindness

ADHD can make you feel like everything is urgent. You want to act fast, especially when an opportunity sounds exciting or time-limited. That impulsivity is exactly what scammers count on.

🔍 Inattention to Detail

Scammers often use slightly altered company names, fake job descriptions, or vague emails. If your brain struggles with filtering details (a common executive function challenge), you might not notice the red flags until it’s too late.

🧯 Burnout and Overwhelm

Let’s be real: job hunting is exhausting. When you’re already mentally maxed out, your ability to analyze critically drops. That’s when the scammer’s message feels like a lifeline.

Coaching Changes the Game

This is where coaching becomes more than just personal development—it becomes protection.

An ADHD-informed coach helps you:

Create decision-making buffers to slow down impulsive responses
Spot red flags through structured thinking frameworks
Recognize emotional triggers like rejection or urgency
Rebuild your trust in your own judgment
Process job search stress without losing momentum

Through coaching, you get practical tools and emotional support. You learn to work with your brain, not against it.

The 8DHD Method: A Foundation for Safety and Success

As a Board-Certified Nurse Coach and ADHD Clinical Services Provider, I created the 8DHD Method to support neurodivergent professionals in building lives they can thrive in. It’s a holistic coaching framework grounded in three core pillars:

1. Accountability

Having someone to check in with keeps you grounded and present. Coaching gives you a system of neutral accountability—not pressure, just clarity and consistency.

2. Knowing Yourself

When you understand your patterns, values, and needs, it’s easier to see through manipulation. You know what “real” feels like. You know your worth. You know your boundaries.

3. Resilience

Scams hit hardest when you’re exhausted. The 8DHD method builds your resilience—not just so you bounce back from setbacks, but so you’re less shaken by them in the first place.

This isn’t mindset fluff. It’s structure built around how your brain actually works.

Real Results from Real People

Clients I’ve worked with have:

Identified their impulsive red-flag patterns
Rebuilt trust in their own decisions
Learned to navigate job offers with clarity and confidence
Developed systems to stay organized and avoid crisis-mode thinking

This isn’t theoretical—it’s tested. My clients range from new grads to executives and entrepreneurs. The common thread? They all needed tools designed for neurodivergent brains.

And when they got them? They didn’t just avoid scams—they built careers and lives they could believe in.

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Broken. You’re Not Alone.

Scammers are strategic. They use language, urgency, and psychology to manipulate. That doesn’t make you foolish—it makes you human. Add ADHD to the mix, and the vulnerability increases. But so does your capacity to grow.

You deserve more than just avoiding disaster. You deserve tools that help you thrive—in your job search, in your career, and in your life.