How To Protect Yourself From Employment Scams
The Better Business Bureau reports an estimated 14 million people are exposed to employment scams each year, resulting in job seekers losing a collective $2 billion annually. In recent years, increases in unemployment and job openings have brought about an increase in job scams, making it difficult for even the most careful of job seekers to tell the difference between legitimate postings and scams.
Below you’ll find six tips on how to protect yourself from employment scams – from identifying a potential scam to dealing with the aftermath.
Be aware of the warning signs
Employment scams can be found anywhere – on career sites, social media, and even directly targeted at job seekers through email or by phone. Therefore, it’s important to know these five warning signs in order to protect yourself:
You’re asked for personal information or money: Legitimate job postings will never require you to spend any money or give your personal information in order to apply or be considered for the job. Oftentimes, scammers will lure in applicants by promising their money will be paid back or that their personal information is needed in order to complete background checks or be added to payroll. However, the truth is, this money and personal information is being stolen with no intent of extending a job offer.
The job description is vague: Real job opportunities will have specific requirements and a thorough description regarding the role. If you come across a job that has a very vague description or one with ambiguous requirements, chances are – it’s not a real job! If you can’t figure out the role based on the job description, it’s best to not apply or click any links found in the post.
Communication contains grammatical errors or spelling mistakes: Carefully read through any communication regarding a job posting – whether it’s the job description or “personalized” emails sent directly to you. If you notice numerous mistakes throughout the writing, this can be a huge warning sign that the job is not legitimate. Actual postings or emails sent out regarding jobs will always be thoroughly read by the company before being published.
The pay is too good to be true: At first glance, a high salary can seem like a great opportunity, especially if the work described does not seem too hard. However, many scammers will use this tactic in order to attract applicants with no intention of actually giving them any pay. Carefully read through a job description and salary information to determine whether or not it is real. If the salary does not seem reasonable for the work described or the amount of hours required, it’s probably too good to be true. Additionally, job postings that put a strong emphasis on pay or include phrases like “make money fast!” or “unlimited earning potential!” can also be signs of a potential scam.
You’re offered a job quickly after applying or not applying at all: After applying and interviewing for multiple roles, being extended an offer can feel like a weight has finally been lifted – making many job seekers feel the need to quickly accept any offer thrown their way. However, if you’re being offered a role after just applying or never submitting an application at all, these are certainly red flags. Chances are in these situations the “employer” doesn’t actually care about your experiences or qualifications – simply because there is no job for you to be qualified for in the first place. Instead, they are just trying to quickly move you along in the “hiring process” in order to receive your personal information, money, or your help with a fraudulent task.
Only use reliable sources to find jobs
In order to steer clear of employment scams, be sure to use reliable sources to find jobs. This includes applying to jobs directly from an organization's website, reputable career sites such as Indeed and LinkedIn, or established recruiting agencies. Be wary of applying to new jobs on career sites you’ve never heard of or those that have poor reviews. If you do come across a job that you’re unsure of, do further research on the role or organization in order to rule out whether or not it is a scam.
Do research on jobs and companies you find
Before applying to any role, be sure to do your research – especially if it is an organization you are not familiar with. For legitimate organizations, you should be able to find an official website, social media accounts, online reviews on sites like Glassdoor, and even contact information for current employees. If your searches come up empty, you may be looking at a scam job posting. For posts you find on career sites, look up the role on the organization’s website or LinkedIn page and try reaching out directly to recruiters or hiring managers at the organization to ask for more information.
Report the scams you see
If you’ve identified an employment scam, it’s best to report it in order to save other job seekers from applying to the “job” or having their information stolen. Follow these steps in order to report a scam and make the job hunt a better experience for all:
Report to the Federal Trade Commission: The Federal Trade Commission works to prevent scams and fraudulent business practices. While reporting any employment scams you find to the FTC will not necessarily resolve your report, it will be shared with law enforcers and used to gather information in order to prevent future scams from occurring.
Report to the Better Business Bureau: The goal of the Better Business Bureau is to build a trustworthy marketplace. One way they achieve this is by investigating fraud against consumers and businesses. By reporting a scam to the BBB, you will be able to share your experiences, report false advertisements, and warn others about particular businesses and job offers.
Report to the company scammers are posing as if applicable: Oftentimes, identifying a scam can be difficult if the scammer is posing as an actual organization. For example, scammers may create fake email accounts or websites that appear to be official at first glance. Be on the lookout for emails that come from unofficial email addresses and always carefully read the URL of the website you are visiting. If you find a fake job from a scammer posing as another company, report your findings to the actual company. From here, the organization may release a statement warning others and point you in the right direction for actual job openings they are offering.
Report scam listings to job sites if applicable: Even trustworthy career sites can fall victim to sharing illegitimate job posts. Luckily, these sites work hard to prevent fraudulent job posts and allow users to report any posts they deem to be untrustworthy. If you come across a post on an official career site that you have determined is a scam, report the listing to the site.
What to do if you’ve given money or personal information to a scammer
If you’ve identified a job posting as a scam after supplying personal information or money, follow these steps to further protect yourself:
Report fraud to your bank if applicable: If you’ve supplied a scammer with bank information and have had money removed from your account, be sure to contact your bank right away to have the charges disputed. Explain the situation and ask about the next steps to follow in order to get your money back or change your banking information if needed.
Report fraud to apps or services you used if applicable: If you sent money to a scammer through an app or website such as Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App, contact the payment service right away. Again, you will want to explain the situation and let them know you were unknowingly involved in a scam in order to receive your money back.
Change passwords to any accounts if applicable: If you gave a scammer any passwords or usernames or suspect they have hacked into any personal accounts, be sure to change your passwords and login information. If you are currently using the same password for other accounts, be sure to change these as well. This step is especially important if you've clicked any links or visited untrustworthy websites.
Scan your computer for viruses or spyware: If you suspect a scammer has access to your computer, you will want to rid your device of any possible viruses or spyware software that have been downloaded. Run a thorough scan to identify any issues and delete any unknown software. Additionally, be sure to update your computer’s security settings or even invest in antivirus software and protection. Again, this step can be crucial if you have clicked on links or were redirected to untrustworthy websites.
Report identity theft: If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, report your experiences to the FTC’s identity theft website. Here, you will be supplied information regarding how to recover and helpful tips for preventing similar situations in the future.
Searching for a job can be challenging enough. Take the guesswork out of identifying potential scams when you partner with Nexus Staff. Contact us today to get started or check out our list of available jobs here.