This past year, it seems that scams are on the increase, in particular job scams. With the unemployment rate so high, many job seekers are falling prey to these scammers.
Fictitious jobs appear on job boards and job seekers are conned into paying a fee with the assumption that they will advance to the next process of recruitment. They are also becoming victims of identity theft in the process.
Scammers are becoming craftier in the way they operate, and it’s becoming more difficult to know what a scam is and what a legitimate job opening is.
Signs to look out for include:
- Never pay money when it comes to a job offer. Any job that requires you to pay a fee in advance is probably a scam. If the recruiter offers to train you for the job, in return for money is another warning sign.
- Always research the company. Visit their website and make sure there is a working contact number. Do not trust a job offer that does not have legitimate contact details attached to it.
- Look out for free email accounts. Any recruiter who uses a free email contact such as Google, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc. is likely to be a scammer. Legitimate job related emails will come from corporate email accounts.
- Do not trust offers without interviews. Reputable companies will not offer you a job without interviewing you first. Do not ever accept a job offer that comes through via email.
- If you receive a job offer for a job you didn’t apply for. If it sounds too good to be true, then chances are it is too good to be true.
- Do not give out personal information. Never part with your social security number or personal information. The only time you should be handing over personal information such as social security numbers, is after you have been hired and are setting up payment and tax information.
The consequences of falling prey to scammers can include identity theft, the loss of your hard earned money, and illegal charges to your credit card. Before falling prey to these scammers, do your homework and check up on the company and the job offer carefully.
