Everyone has seen them: A scrap of paper in a restroom, an email we didn’t request, a social media ad promising quick money for labor that requires no ability. Perhaps you’ve even applied for a job without realizing it was a ruse!
Some job frauds are apparent, while others can trick anyone at first glance. But no one looking for a genuine job to advance their career deserves to be taken in. I believe in being smart in your job hunt, so I’ll walk you through common job scams and how to prevent them.
How to Determine Fraud
So, here’s the unpleasant fact. Scammers create phony job adverts in the hopes of obtaining your personal information in order to steal your identity. It’s sometimes worse, as though they’re leading a people trafficking operation. In either case, there are numerous indicators you can look for to determine whether this opportunity is real or a big, fat fraud (not to mention a waste of time).
It’s Too Good to Be True
Several job scams advertise exorbitantly high pay for tasks that need little experience and few hours. Hence, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It most likely is! If a job ad promises $400 a day for only five hours of work—no experience required!—run.
Grammar and spelling errors
Poor grammar and spelling are dead giveaways. Don’t apply if the ad says anything like, “We are expanding our company chances to new frontiers and aim to give this opportunity to persons looking for a meaningful work that makes you full.” A legitimate job posting will make sense and will use proper grammar and spelling.
Do our risk assessment for identity theft.
Check for this indicator in every communication you receive. The job posting may have appeared legitimate, but if the person interacting with you can’t weave together a good sentence, that’s a significant red flag.
Too Important
Scammers frequently offer the job far too early in the interview process (think the first phone call or email) and press you to take it right away. No credible organization would recruit someone without conducting a rigorous interview procedure. A recruiter for a genuine job opportunity will ensure that you and the organization are a suitable fit.
There was no request for work verification.
This one is comparable to the last red flag. A complete interview procedure includes requesting and verifying job references. If a company isn’t bothered with verifying your work experience, they’re generally not concerned with the law or giving you a legitimate job either.
The Job Description Is Very Vague
Another guaranteed technique to spot a fraud is to check to see if the job description really matches the job! It’s a scam if the listing goes on and on about how much money you can make and how simple it will be, but says nothing about what you’ll actually be doing.
Unexpected Job Opening
Did you receive an email thanking you for your email inquiry about a job and informing you that they have an opening? Or perhaps a letter in the mail informing you of a job chance that is simply too excellent to pass up? Don’t get taken in by it. They got your address from someone unscrupulous and are just waiting for you to write back with personal information they can use to steal from you if you never sent an email or enquiry.
Email Addresses in General
Take note of the email address of the recruiter with whom you are interacting. If they work for a reputable company, their email address should be company-specific (jessicacalinas@companyname.com), rather than Gmail or another generic address. Avoid communicating with anyone who uses a generic email address.
False URL
Several scammers create phony job postings for legitimate businesses. It is now simple to counterfeit a firm website and email template in order to deceive an uninformed job applicant. Examine the URL if you’re invited to apply online at a company’s website. If it contains anything strange, that’s a red flag. It doesn’t have to be drastic; it might be as simple as www.company-name.com instead of www.companyname.com. Check for extra dashes or letters that aren’t meant to be there, as well as foreign addresses at the conclusion (like .eu or .au).
Talk Now That the Interview Is Done
No reputable company will do an interview over text or a chat service. If someone asks to interview you by text, that’s a red flag. A actual job interview will take place over the phone, in person, and/or by Zoom if the job is located out of state or in a distant location.
Requests Payment from You
Sometimes the trick is obvious—they only want your money, not your personal information. They tell you they have a job for you, but you must first pay for training or certification before you can begin working. Of course, once they have your $39.95 payment for onboarding supplies in hand, they and the job that never existed vanish. Poof!
Requests your Social Security Number
When we start a new job, we all anticipate to give our employer our Social Security number, address, and banking information. But, if a scammer asks for our information at the start of a phony interview, we may not hesitate to provide it. People, don’t fall for it! This is a fraud tactic since it occurs too early in the process. During interviews, you should never be asked for your Social Security number.
Typical Employment Scams
Scammers are not always imaginative. They frequently use the same setup that other scammers have used. You don’t have to fall for them if you know what they are. When you’re out there looking for a meaningful work, keep an eye out for these classic frauds.
The Pyramid Scheme
This could be the largest one yet. Everyone has heard of pyramid schemes, but what exactly are they? To keep the scheme afloat, the participants must persuade others to join. Joining usually entails a financial investment, which makes the program appear to be a profitable enterprise. The scheme will continue as long as people continue to pay to enroll.
The plan may occasionally sell a product, but that is not where the money are made.
Big Co-op Inc., based in California in the early 2000s, was an example of a pyramid scheme. Big Co-op, which began as an internet retail website, made its money by selling licenses and memberships to participants. As a participant, you would pay membership dues and then pay for the right to sell Big Co-op merchandise to others and earn a commission. Then you’d persuade others to get a membership and license as well (you’d earn a commission on both), and the cycle would continue.
This could have been a legitimate business if Big Co-op generated money by selling actual things, but they made all of their “earnings” by selling licenses (to sell more licenses to sell more licenses).
MLM stands for Multi-Level Marketing (MLM)
You might be surprised to learn that multi-level marketing (MLM) isn’t always a scam… These business models resemble the pyramid scheme paradigm, but with one crucial difference: MLMs sell items and profit from those sales.
These businesses, often known as network marketing or direct marketing, function by selling directly to consumers through person-to-person sales rather than through a store or website. MLM participants who switch to the job of recruiter make the most money. Because MLMs have a high turnover of salespeople (most people who join an MLM don’t last long), you must be skilled at recruiting salespeople.
Amway, doTERRA, Beautycounter, and Avon are some of the oldest and most well-known MLMs.
However, many pyramid schemes pose as MLMs, so be cautious. Remember those loudly printed leggings with hot dogs and sunflowers splattered all over your Facebook feed by friends wearing LuLaRoe? (No? You were then spared.) One organization was accused of running a pyramid scam and was forced to pay $4.75 million to thousands of consultants who were duped into thinking they were joining a legitimate MLM. 1
The thing about LuLaRoe is that it straddled the line between legitimate business and scam (it is still technically in operation today). That’s the thing about MLMs. They can be a lawful business… and unpleasant at times. Many companies employ marketing strategies that claim to take you to the moon and back but fail to deliver.
If you’re thinking of joining one, make sure you check at their compensation plan, google what others are saying (including keywords like “scam”), have a sales plan, and are completely clear on what you’re signing up for.
Filling Envelopes
Be paid hundreds of dollars to stuff circulars into envelopes and mail them from the comfort of your own home? It sounds like a good deal! Wait a minute—this is one of the oldest con games in the book. It works very much like a pyramid scheme: participants pay a charge for the startup kit (envelopes, stamps, etc.) and are then told how they can make money by convincing others to join.
Data Entry Online
This one irritates me because it targets folks like single mothers who wish to be at home with their children while yet earning a living. Nevertheless, don’t believe the advertisements that claim you can make hundreds of dollars every day from home by inputting data into a computer. Data entry is a real employment, but it does not pay well. Run for the hills if the job offer you’re considering promises to make you wealthy. There are numerous reputable work from home jobs that pay well and can be scheduled around your family’s schedule.
Scams involving Personal Assistants
Scammers will frequently pose as significant world-traveling businesspeople in need of a personal assistant to hold down the fort at home. They promote a personal assistant position that will pay well and provide all of the finances needed to complete the numerous tasks they want of you (like mail this or buy that).
If you fall for it, they will give you a check for more than the cost of the scam and then ask you to refund them for the excess. Yet, after a few days, their cheque bounces, leaving you without a job and an empty bank account.
Scams Regarding Reshipment
Have you ever considered how burglars unload their stolen goods? That can happen through a job search fraud. They “employ” unsuspecting individuals to repackage and transfer stolen goods from their houses. Of course, payment never arrives, and those employees unintentionally become criminals themselves!
How to Be Safe From Employment Scams
Though there are so many frauds out there, you don’t have to be afraid to make a move and look for your next step in your profession. Power comes from knowledge. Let’s look at some strategies to protect yourself from work scams.
Honor Your Sixth Sense
There’s undoubtedly a reason why the little hairs on the back of your neck are dancing. What’s the worst that may happen if you don’t respond to a potentially false ad? You squander an excellent opportunity. And what happens if you do respond? Your identity has been stolen, and you’ve been left to clean up the mess for months.
Follow your instincts—the risk is simply not worth it otherwise.
Get More Information
If you’re talking to a recruiter and they’re being vague about the job, try pressing them for more information. This is kind of enjoyable for me since I enjoy a good argument—and if it’s a fraud, that recruiter isn’t going to appreciate it. They’ll evaporate and flee faster than you can say “scammer!”
Do your research
Do your own reference check. Do an internet search on the firm allegedly offering the position to vet the company and job posting. Make sure to include the terms “scam” and “fraud” in your search. If the company is well-known, google them and compare their website URL to the URL provided by the job posting. If you’re still unsure, contact the legitimate company and inquire whether they contacted you.
If the employment remuneration looks out of line (too high), research the going rate for the type of job being offered. Online, average job earnings are easily accessible.