Employment Scams
The job market has become plagued by scammers looking to make quick money from people looking for actual employment opportunities. Job search websites and social media are filled with fake job postings. These scams can take various forms, but they typically involve scammers posing as employers to deceive their victims. Here are some telltale signs to be on the lookout for and how you can protect yourself.
The Anatomy of Employment Scams
Too Good to be True: Fake job postings may claim high salaries for minimal effort or qualifications, sometimes with the promise that you can work from home. The job description may be vague or solely focused on recruitment. Some scammers will go as far as conducting fake job interviews for a job that does not exist.
Upfront Fees: Advance fee scams are incredibly common when it comes to employment scams and they can take on many forms. Legitimate employers do not require payment from applicants and usually cover any cost related to hiring.
Check Cashing Schemes: These scams revolve around counterfeit checks that scammers send to victims. The victim is asked to deposit them into their bank account and then send a portion of funds back to the scammer. The fake check bounces and the victim is out the money.
Ship that Back to Me: These scams involve receiving and shipping packages. These fake job opportunities offer high pay, but the job seeker ends up unknowingly participating in illegal activities by shipping stolen goods or money.
Pyramid Schemes: Be careful of job offers that require you to recruit others with false promises of high earnings. Pyramid schemes are often disguised as legitimate jobs that promise unrealistically high returns and pressure you to recruit friends and family. There’s often a lack of transparency with business structure and pyramid schemes and some have even had legal actions, complaints, and investigations brought against them.
Thoroughly research job opportunities and the companies offering them. Trust your instincts - if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Watch out for job postings that boast high payment for minimal work. Verify that the company is legitimate by checking for a visible online presence, reviews, and contact information.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Beware of fraudulent recruiters or job placement agencies that ask you to pay fees for services that are nonexistent.
Suspicious emails or an unsolicited job offer with poor grammar, spelling errors, and unprofessional email addresses.
Be skeptical of any unsolicited checks or checks related to a job offer.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Stick to well-known, reputable job search platforms that verify job postings and offer policies protecting users from scammers.
Before depositing any check, confirm its authenticity with your bank.
If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a job offer, consult trusted friends, family, or career advisors.