- From 5 October 2026 basic and standard DBS checks cost £20.00 and enhanced checks £41.00. Volunteer checks remain free.
- Employers, voluntary organisations and third parties acting for them request standard and enhanced checks.
- National Trading Standards reported fake-recruiter victims paying £70 to £100 each.
- A DBS check has no official expiry date, so a recruiter’s “urgent renewal” has no basis in the rules.
How the scam works
A job advert appears for a care, school or security role. After a quick interview, the “employer” says a DBS check is needed before you start and sends a link. The site charges you, sometimes more than once, and the job disappears. National Trading Standards reported a case in which dozens of job-seekers paid £70 to £100 each, and the organiser was sentenced in February 2026 to 14 months for laundering the proceeds. The details are in fake DBS check websites.
The sequence of a typical offer
- You apply with a CV and are contacted quickly, sometimes without a formal interview.
- You are told you have the job, subject to a check you pay for.
- The recruiter, not the employer, supplies the link.
- After payment, the start date slips, a second fee appears, or contact stops.
Who really requests a DBS check
GOV.UK explains the types. A basic check shows unspent convictions and conditional cautions; standard checks also show spent convictions and cautions; enhanced checks add information held by police; an enhanced check with barred lists also shows whether the person is barred from the role. Employers, voluntary organisations and other third parties apply for standard and enhanced checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service. An individual applies for their own check only for a basic check or where self-employed or hiring a personal employee.
| Check | Fee from 5 October 2026 | Before |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | £20.00 | £21.50 |
| Standard | £20.00 | £21.50 |
| Enhanced | £41.00 | £49.50 |
| Standard or enhanced, unpaid volunteer | Free | Free |
| Update Service subscription, per year | £15.00 | £16.00 |
The fees come from the DBS announcement published on 9 September 2026, which also says registered bodies may charge an additional administration fee that DBS neither sets nor regulates.
Red flags
- The recruiter, not the employer’s own HR, tells you to pay.
- The employer cannot give you a company name you can verify, a website, or a named contact.
- The link is not on gov.uk and the price is higher than the table above.
- You are pushed to pay quickly before an interview or start date.
- You are asked to pay for a standard or enhanced check, which the organisation requests itself.
Two-minute checks
- Find the employer’s switchboard yourself and ask whether the role exists and who handles DBS checks.
- Ask what type of check the role needs, and who applies for it.
- Compare any price with the table. A basic check on GOV.UK is £20.00.
If you already paid
- Tell your bank or card provider the payment was for a check that was never delivered.
- Report to Report Fraud and the Citizens Advice consumer helpline, 0808 223 1133, which National Trading Standards names as the place to report suspected scams.
- Apply for a basic check yourself on GOV.UK if a genuine employer needs one.
If you are unsure, contact the organisation through contact details you find yourself. See also how a basic check works.
Frequently asked questions
Should I pay for a DBS check before getting a job?
Not through a link from a recruiter. Employers request standard and enhanced checks themselves. A basic check is applied for on GOV.UK for £20.00 from 5 October 2026.
Do volunteers pay for DBS checks?
Standard and enhanced checks for unpaid volunteers are free, according to GOV.UK.
Who can request an enhanced DBS check?
Employers and organisations entitled to ask. An individual cannot normally request one for themselves.
How much is an enhanced DBS check?
£41.00 from 5 October 2026, reduced from £49.50, according to the DBS announcement. The employer or organisation requests it.
Does a DBS check expire?
GOV.UK says a DBS check has no official expiry date. An employer may ask for a new one, but a recruiter claiming yours has lapsed and must be paid for is not following the rules.
What did the National Trading Standards case involve?
A fake recruitment company told job-seekers to pay for DBS checks through counterfeit sites. Dozens of victims paid £70 to £100 each, and the organiser was sentenced to 14 months in February 2026.