Common Job Scams: Stay Aware and Protect Yourself
The above picture is of a man sitting at a desk with his laptop open, his hands raised with a look of turmoil on his face.
Common Job Scams: Stay Aware and Protect Yourself
There are lots of scams
out there in the world. The top fraud of 2017 was one where people would
receive a call from a loved one who was reportedly in trouble and needed to be
sent money. In fact, $328 million was lost to this scam alone,
and one in five people who reported a scam fell victim to one.
The fact that any scam
exists is unfortunate, but when you're looking for a job, the thought of a scam
can make an inherently stressful process even scarier.
Especially if you're
someone who hasn't been working for some time, it's hard to know where to look
for signs of trouble. Here's how to avoid some top job scams so you can start
earning without fear.
Ways to Avoid Common Job Scams
Luckily, many jobs that
are scams have the same warning signs to look out for. On sites like Craigslist and others, chances
are if it feels fishy, then it's fishy. Don't be a victim to something that you
can avoid.
Look for the Warning Signs
Some warning signs may
seem very obvious, and others might be more subtle and hard to detect. The
sad reality is that these scams are around because they actually work.
If a job seems too good
to be true, it almost without a doubt actually is. If you're offered the job
straight away without an interview or without even applying, you should know
that you're getting scammed. If little to no discussion has taken place with an
employer, there's something that's not right about the process.
If the company you're
looking into asks you to transfer money to them or wants to know your credit
card information, that's a scam as well. This is something that you should
report, as it's a blatant attack on people to try to get money.
Any time a company asks
for personal information such as this, or something like your driver's license
number or social security number, you should no longer contact that company.
If you have to pay for
training, the job isn't legitimate or fair. If you have to pay for a credit
check as a part of your application process, the company is trying to get money
from you. Same goes for if you're asked to wire money or forward it to a third
party.
Salary details can be a
tricky topic to navigate while in the job market, but if they're wildly
unclear, then something might be wrong. If the employer can't give you at least
an estimate of a number, then they might not be a legitimate company.
Don't get disheartened.
There are a lot of jobs out there with reliable companies that are
excited to work with you. The good outweighs the bad, but the bad does need to
be watched out for.
Do a Background Check
When you're considering
applying to a company, do your research on them before you take another step.
If you just do as much
as google the name of the company and add "scam" to the end of it,
you may come up with some results that can help clear things up for you.
You can also check to
see if the company is listed on Glassdoor and see what kinds of reviews that
they have. If the reviews aren't good, it means other people have gone before
you and seen if the company is a scam.
If there is no contact
information on the website of the business you're looking into, that is another
warning sign. You can also check the company out through the Better Business
Bureau.
Types of Scams
Besides run of the mill
scams to do with applying for jobs, career-related scams are also out there.
If someone is
advertising career consulting, you have to be careful. There are people out
there who will pretend to be impressed with your skill set and ask to represent
you. They'll try to sell you resume writing skills, marketing services, and
more to take your money from you.
Recruiters can also
contact you saying that they have a job that would be perfect for you. They'll
also, unfortunately, say that there isn't an opening right now, but if they
could offer you a little bit of training, it might increase your candidacy.
These people are trying
to get you to pay for training that will not pan out for you in the end,
because the position was likely not ever going to open up or wasn't real in the
first place.
There are also people
out there who are phishing for your info. If you can't apply directly for a job
on a website and it redirects you to a form where you have to fill out
information, carefully look at the form to see if it's legitimate. They could
be looking to take your information when you fill out this form, not use it to
let you apply to a job, and actually be selling it to a third party that
collects information.
Get the Real Deal
Go with a website you
can trust your future career with. Job Opportunities for Disabled Veterans has
carefully vetted all our jobs to make sure that you're given the kind of
rewarding and fair opportunity that you deserve.
Working
from home is also an option to consider. Working as a freelance
writer, an online tutor, translator, editor, or more can be a way to be
comfortable when you're working and might feel hesitant about fully returning
to the workforce. With a little bit of work, working from home might be a great
option for you that can also help you avoid common types of job scams.
Don't let fear of
someone taking advantage of you hold you back. When you're aware of all the
dangers of job scams out there, you'll be able to confidently look for
jobs and steer clear of warning signs. The sooner you start, the sooner you can
start earning money and moving forward. Sign up
now to start your job search today!