Learn to Recognize and
Avoid a Job Offer Scam
Job Offer Scams have existed for a long time. In days gone by the perpetrators of these scams relied on classified advertising and direct mail campaigns. The proliferation of the internet has provided these scammers with access to a much larger pool of potential victims. Many of these offenders find their victims through
job postings.
The objective of a job offer scam is usually one or a combination of three things.- To part you from your money
- To steal your identity.
- To get you to work for nothing
Some of the job scammers find their victims by putting up postings that look like a legitimate job opening. Others will email in response to your posted resume with job offers that may or may not sound legitimate. This is not an exhaustive list. It's just a few of the more prevalent scams.
Parting You from Your Money
One type of job offer scam requires you to pay for something up front in exchange for which you are guaranteed to get a job. The ‘something’ varies from scam to scam. But whatever the ‘something’ is, the scammers make the offer seem risk free. Don't trust anyone who guarantees she will find you a job especially if she charges you a fee to do it. Even if she offers to provide you with a product (such as a portfolio) for your money. Even if she offers a money back guarantee. The product won’t get you a job and you won’t get your money back. Other types of scams involve home based envelope stuffing or product assembly work. Both of which require you to buy a starter kit first only to find there is no market for your "product". Don't be taken in. Another prevalent scam that could either land you in jail and/or cost you money is this: You're asked to cash money orders or cashiers checks at your bank; keep a percentage of the money for your trouble and send the rest of the money somewhere else. After you send the money on the bank discovers the cashier's check is no good and takes the money back. If the objective is to steal your money or identity, scammers will often ask for personal information. Usually under the pretense of paying you or qualifying your candidacy. It's natural for you, the job seeker, to want to comply with these requests. Especially if the job sounds really great.
Stealing Your Identity
Unless you've personally met with a company representative and have confirmed the company is legitimate, never give your bank account numbers, driver's license number or social security number via email or over the internet. Even if the reason given for supplying this information sounds legitimate. Your driver's license number and social security number might legitimately be needed during the screening process for a driving record, criminal background or credit check. But this screening should not occur until after an interview. Your Social Security card will also be needed for the U.S. government mandated I-9 form. (The I-9 is used to verify that you have the right to work in the United States.) This form is needed within the first 3 days after you start to work. By law a company representative is supposed to personally see your original social security card or other acceptable documents. Your checking or savings account number might be asked for on a Direct Deposit form. But that is something that should be initiated at your request and only after you start working. Your bank account numbers are not needed for a credit check. Bona fide employers will not ask you for any of this personal information until you are well into their hiring process. By then you should have met with someone at the company's place of business. And you will have had a chance to determine whether the hiring company is legitimate.
Getting You to Work for No Money
Another type of job offer scam takes the form of “commission” based “independent contractor” type opportunities. Their lure is the potential to get rich quick and sometimes to be your own boss. They may also possess the following characteristics.
- There is little to no screening involved
in the hiring process
(I.e. Everyone who wants the job gets hired.)- You only get paid if you sell something.
- There is little to no training
before you’re thrown into the work. - There is no base pay or benefits.
- There is a high turnover rate.
- The work environment is unprofessional
with people yelling or otherwise behaving inappropriately - The 'office' looks like it was put together on the cheap.
People who get pulled into this type of job offer scam typically don't realize what is happening until they've started to work. They tend to leave quickly because of the work environment, the nature of the work and / or they're not making any real money. The people who have been there all along pick up whatever accounts were established. This is not your ideal opportunity.
What To Do
If you're approached about an opportunity that is less than honest or unknowingly apply to a 'shady' posting notify the job board through which the offer came. All job boards and job search engines (as well as other
job lead sources
) say their policy is to allow only legitimate opportunities to be posted. Some are better than others at living up to this promise. Avoid being taken in by a job offer scam. Do your homework on the company. Go to the company web-site. Do a search on Google to see if any negative information about the company shows up in the on-line watch-dog groups. Checking the company out with the Better Business Bureau may also be helpful. But a lot of these companies change names faster than you can blink. So even if nothing negative shows up it doesn't mean the company is legitimate. In the end you should trust your instincts. Knowing these job offer scams are out there is half the battle in defending yourself against them. The other half is this:
If it sounds to good to be true--it is!
Home to Job-Seekers-Edge.com
Starting Your Job Search
Job Search Engines Could be the Source of A Job Offer Scam
Common Job Lead Sources
|
