Hey everyone. A quick heads up for your safety.
A scammer used my name to charge someone for a resume review. Here's how it works, how to spot it, and what to do if you're targeted.
The TLDR:
- All emails from Work With Indies come from the @workwithindies.com domain
- Work With Indies only hosts job listings; we don't recruit or reach out about roles
- Never, ever pay anyone as part of any recruiting or hiring process
- If you do get one of these emails, report it here: https://support.google.com/mail/contact/abuse and forward the email to report@workwithindies.com
How to Spot the Scam
Someone is impersonating me and Work With Indies to pose as a recruiter for game companies.
Here's what one of the initial emails looks like:
[.c-paper]On Sun, Mar 22, 2026 at 5:45 PM Nathan Bossia <nathan.bossia.work.with.index@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi NAME, I hope you’re doing well. My name is Nathan Bosia, People Person, work with indies company
I’m reaching out regarding a confidential, retained search for a Head of Studio Operations / GM role with a real, actively operating company in the AAA/AA gaming and interactive entertainment space. Your background in leading creative teams, scaling studios (STUDIO, STUDIO), and navigating the intersection of product, people, and process stood out strongly during our shortlist review.
This role is ideal for leaders who drive measurable outcomes, build teams, and shape organizational performance.
If this aligns with what you’re exploring, I’d be happy to share the full role brief.
Best regards,
Nathan Bosia
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbosia
https://www.workwithindies.com/about-us
Nathan.bossia.Work.With.Indiex@gmail.com[.c-paper]
At first glance, it’s pretty convincing. But there are a few clear warning signs:
- My name is mispelled ("Bossia")
- The from email address is a wonky and mispelled combination of my name and Work With Indies using @gmail.com instead of @workwithindies.com
- The intro paragraph is a bit clumsy
The from email address is the biggest giveaway. We only send emails from the @workwithindies.com domain. Anything else isn't from us.
Also, we don't send recruiting emails. Work With Indies is a job board. We’re not involved in hiring decisions and won’t reach out about specific roles.
Why this Scam Works
This isn't a random spam. Its a multi-step scam designed to earn your trust before asking for money.
You could see why the email might trip some people up.
They:
- Use a real person (me) and a trusted brand (Work With Indies)
- Reference your work history to make it feel personalized
- Present an attractive, high-paying opportunity
- Link to my LinkedIn and our website to build credibility
- Ask for nothing upfront
All you have to do is reply “interested.”
At that point, you've said yes, confirmation bias starts to creep in, and it starts to feel real.
Here's the follow up to the first email:
[.c-paper]On Mon, Mar 23, 2026 at 11:44 AM Nathan Bossia <nathan.bossia.work.with.index@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi NAME,
Thank you for your interest. Below is the full overview for the Head of Studio Operations position:
Company: Unknown Worlds Entertainment (Subsidiary of Krafton, Inc.)
Role Title: Head of Studio Operations / General Manager
Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Hybrid/Remote flexibility)
Reporting To: CEO / Head of Krafton’s Western Studios>
Compensation: $200,000–$350,000 base + significant performance bonus + equity/LTI + comprehensive benefits (no degree required)
Key Responsibilities
• Lead Studio Operations: Oversee the day-to-day operational health of a high-profile development studio, bridging the gap between creative ambition and sustainable execution.
• Scale the Organization: Drive strategic growth initiatives, optimizing team structure, talent acquisition, and resource allocation to support current projects (like Subnautica) and future IP incubation.
• Build Systems & Process: Architect and refine the systems, pipelines, and workflows that enable a lean, ambitious team to operate with AAA efficiency without losing indie-agility.
• Influence Strategy: Partner with the Creative Director and Executive Leadership to shape the studio’s long-term roadmap, publishing relationships, and P&L management.
• Own Performance Metrics: Define, track, and report on KPIs related to delivery timelines, budget adherence, team health, and overall operational performance.
Ideal Candidate Profile
• Proven Leadership: Strong background in senior operational roles within AAA or high-profile AA studios (e.g., Bungie, 2K, or founder experience).
• Builder Mentality: Demonstrated success in scaling creative teams and building the foundational "systems that make great work sustainable."
• Strategic & Operational: A leader who thrives at the intersection of product, people, and process, with experience in publishing outreach and prototyping.
• No degree required: Skills, experience, and demonstrated impact are valued above formal education.
Screening Questions
1. What is your current notice period or availability to start?
2. What compensation range would you consider for this role?
3. Any key preferences regarding travel, hybrid work, or specific studio locations?
Please attach your resume for internal benchmarking.
Best regards,
Nathan Bosia
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbosia
https://www.workwithindies.com/about-us
Nathan.bossia.Work.With.Indiex@gmail.com[.c-paper]
Sounds even better and more legit than the first! They even asked screening questions!! And now you're investing a bunch of time and effort into not just providing a resume, but answering a series of intial questions.
All of this is designed to pull you in deeper and deeper.
A few emails later, they connect you with a "resume expert" that you can pay to improve your resume. Only then do you get asked for payment.
No legitimate company will ever ask you to make payment as part of their hiring process. The intent of hiring you is to pay you, not the other way around.
Why Reporting Matters (And Actually Works)
We've already seen multiple scam accounts get shut down within hours of being reported.
In one case, the scammer reached back out from a new, now even more suspicious email address claiming they were locked out of the previous account.
In another, someone tried to follow up with me on LinkedIn because their email reply to the scammer bounced. I was able to notify this person of the scam before any damage had been done.
Reporting these accounts actively prevents others from being scammed.
If you do get one of these emails, report it to https://support.google.com/mail/contact/abuse and forward it to report@workwithindies.com.
Other Common Scam Warning Sighs
We've already discussed the big ones:
- The sender's email doesn’t match the company domain*
- You’re asked to pay for anything (resume reviews, equipment, software, etc)
[.c-insight]*Note that MANY indie developers, and certainly brand new startup studios, won't have a website or will only use their web domain as a forwarding email address. I know a head of a well known studio of 20+ years that still sends email from his @gmail account. So, use of @gmail is not definitive proof of a scam, but should be used as a signal to proceed with caution.[.c-insight]
Some other things that you might want to watch out for:
- Any attempt to move conversations off-platform to Telegram or text (where they can't be reported)
- The role is high-paying but vague and/or too good to be true
- There’s no real interview process and getting the job is too easy
- They use urgency (“act fast,” “final stage”) to rush you into bad decisions
- They ask for personal information (address, social #s, etc) before they hire you
Stay safe out there. And thank you everyone for looking out for each other.
