Never Suffer From Job Scams in the Hiring Process Again

The rise of online job applications and remote work has led to job scams becoming even more prevalent with Americans being conned out of "$68 million" in the first quarter of 2022 due to fake business and job opportunities according to the Federal Trade Commission.

With a reported more than 20,700 incidents of business and job opportunity scams, it is important to protect oneself during the job search.

With the pandemic and new opportunities to work from home, scammers are getting ahead of a changing hiring process and are advertising jobs the same way legitimate employers do (i.e., online through ads, job sites and even social media.)

BUT— their tactics are easy to spot once you are aware of what red flags to avoid. With a recent survey by FlexJobs reporting 15% of survey respondents avoided being scammed because they knew the warning signs.

Here are some tips to help you avoid them.

How to Avoid a Job Scam

Before you accept a job offer, and certainly before you pay for one, take these steps to protect yourself from job scams:

• Do research.  

If you are interested in a position, it is best to double check the source. One way to double-check is by looking up name of the company or the person who’s hiring you, plus the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” You might find out they’ve scammed other people.

Websites like Glassdoor would be a great jumping off point since individuals can leave reviews on the company, hiring process, and answer your questions regarding the legitimacy of the job posting.

• Talk to someone you trust and get a second opinion.

Ask someone you trust, if they believe the position and/or company is legitimate or a scam.

• Don't pay for the promise of a job.

Never give a potential employer money with the promise of employment. No legitimate employer will ever ask you to pay to get a job and anyone who does is a scammer.

• Never bank on a “cleared” check also known as "a fake check scam".

This scam entails a scammer sending an applicant a blank check with the intention of having the job seeker fill it out or buy gifts cards. This will result in the check bouncing, and the bank will want you to repay the amount of the fake check. A legitimate employer will never send you a blank check.

Tips for Finding a Job

When you’re searching for a job, use safe and reliable sources. Here are a few places to start:

• USAJobs.gov — This is the federal government’s official site with job openings nationwide.

• CareerOneStop — Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, CareerOneStop lists hundreds of thousands of jobs. It also links to employment and training programs in each state.

• USA.gov — Find local government websites, which list any open positions they may have on their websites.

Report Job Scams to the FTC

If you see or lose money to a job scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. You can also report it to your state attorney general.

Conclusion

Overall, Job Scams are avoidable if one knows the warning signs such warnings signs include paying for the promise of a job (i.e. the fake check scam) and/or requesting personal information too soon in the hiring process such as one's Social Security number.

But — a simple rule to follow is to double check every job posting to determine whether or not it is is legitimate or a scam.