If you’re looking for a job opportunity and it seems too good to be true, maybe it is. There are fraudsters out there who wish to take advantage of the hard work you’ve put in to get to the next stage of your career. Employment scams rose from third riskiest in 2021 to second riskiest in 2022, according to a recent report from the Better Business Bureau.Â
Research the person who contacted you.
If you suspect the person contacting you could be a scammer, look them up. A quick online search should reveal if they work for the company they claim to represent and look up the company the recruiter is representing to make sure it’s legit.
Here are some things to be on the lookout for during your job search to avoid falling for a job scam:
They ask for sensitive information
Recruiters are trained to ask job candidates certain questions to produce a well-rounded overview for hiring managers. During a candidate screening, questions on your recent work experience, education, and hard and soft skills are appropriate to ask. If you are asked to give personal information such as your social security number or tax identification number during the interview process, this should generate some concern and could be a scam. Most businesses will only request personal information once you have accepted an offer and are onboarded as an employee.
They request money
Most job seekers and recruiters will discuss compensation, but that should be the extent of the discussion during the interview. A company should never request a credit card number to hire you, and you should never pay for training unless the industry is government-regulated and requires a license. Giving out personal information puts you at risk of identity theft. If the job posting includes a form to fill out that does not appear to be legitimate or requests more than just basic contact information, be aware that you may be the victim of a phishing scam.
Too many communications errors
Job descriptions and postings are often written by hiring managers and HR personnel, who must ensure professionalism in communication. If a job description contains grammatical errors, applicants should be cautious. Additionally, check the email address, which should be a business email account versus a free email provider or personal account.
It’s important that victims of job scams report them to:
Better Business Bureau – BBB.org or BBB.org/scamtracker.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – reportfraud.ftc.gov or call 877-FTC-Help.
Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – ic3.gov/complaint.
Asia Johnson is an award-winning content marketing specialist for Express Employment International, covering a variety of career topics for job seekers and associate audiences. This article first appeared in the July 11, 2023 edition of Job Journey. Visit blog/expresspros.com to sign up for this monthly newsletter by Express Employment Professionals, which provides tips and advice for every step of your working life.
This article appears in Fall Guide 2023.
