Why do employers put up fake job postings, wasting job seekers’ time with “openings” that don’t really exist?

In many cases they’re not necessarily scams. By “scams,” I mean situations where applicants are exploited for identity theft or enticed into paying for equipment to get started. These happen, but they’re not the most common problem.

You’re more likely to be fooled by “ghost postings”: announcements from real, reputable companies that nevertheless will not actually lead to a hire.