Job Scams – How to Recognize and Avoid Them

If it sounds too good to be true it probably is! Here are some tips on avoiding employment scams, summarized from articles listed below.

  • Don’t get involved with an employer that’s willing to hire you without even a phone interview. If the employer doesn’t use a company email address or verifiable phone number to schedule and conduct a phone or video call, that can be a red flag.
  • Some common phrases that may be used in job scams include “be your own boss,” “make your own schedule,” “free work-from home job,” or “unlimited earning potential.” While some scam jobs ads are obvious to identify, many are meticulously designed.
  • Never give your bank account, PayPal, credit card or Social Security numbers to an employer whose legitimacy you cannot independently verify. These numbers can be used to steal from you or launder funds stolen from others.
  • Do your own research  — use the resources at the Library, look up the person or company or check with our office — on any employer that makes you feel at all uneasy. The Better Business Bureau is an excellent place to start your research into a company’s reputation. Also, check to see if the job is posted on multiple sites. If it’s not, it means the job is either a scam or has been filled.
  • Rational people can make irrational decisions when under stress – recognize your vulnerability and think twice before getting involved in a suspicious employment scheme.

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By Sarah Bell
Sarah Bell Director, Career Readiness & Education
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