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- Scammers are lurking on LinkedIn and other job sites, posing as “recruiters” for well-known companies. But instead of looking to hire you, they’re really looking to take your money and personal information. It starts with a direct message on a job search site like Indeed or LinkedIn.
consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/08/scammers-impersonate-well-known-companies-recruit-fake-jobs-linkedin-and-other-job-platformsScammers impersonate well-known companies, recruit for fake ...
Aug 24, 2023 · A fake law firm in Canada is sending letters to U.S. consumers pitching a scam on how to make money off of another person's life insurance policy.
- Gary Guthrie
Aug 18, 2023 · The FTC has heard reports from people in Korean, Vietnamese, and Latino communities who got letters in the mail from a supposed “lawyer” in Canada. The letter looks like it’s from a law firm and offers an “easy way” to get money using someone else’s life insurance policy. But it’s a scam.
- Overview
- 17 common job scams
- Job scam warning signs
- 5 tips to protect yourself from job scams
- What to do if you've been a victim of a job scam
A job scam is a fraudulent offer for work that is intended to mislead people seeking legitimate employment. Often, the objective of scammers is to deceive job seekers into giving money, divulging personal information or providing free labor. When you're looking for a new job, being able to distinguish between a scam and a valid opportunity can keep you safe and spare you a great deal of hassle.In this article, we look at 17 common job search scams, discuss the warning signs to look for and provide valuable tips on how to protect yourself.This article is for information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Consult with an attorney or lawyer for any legal issues you may be experiencing.Key takeaways:
•When looking for a new job, you may encounter posts or communications advertising fake jobs or career opportunities.
•These advertisements or messages typically aim to steal your personal information or money, so it's important to avoid clicking any links or submitting any details to these scammers.
•You can control the risk of becoming a victim of a scam by carefully researching all potential employers and scanning job posts for suspicious behavior.
1. Fake job listings
Fake job listings come in various forms. Though job sites have measures in place to verify legitimate employers, scammers sometimes manage to get their listings posted. Other fake listings appear on social media profiles created expressly to deceive job seekers. The listings normally ask candidates to pay a fee to complete their application or to get started in the role.Read more: 10 Signs a Job Posting Might Be a Scam
2. Imposters
An imposter is someone purporting to be someone else. In the context of job scams, they usually pose as an affiliate of an agency, government institution or hiring firm. Imposters often ask candidates for a screening fee in the form of gift cards or a wire transfer.
3. Email offers
You may receive an email from someone claiming to be a recruiter who found your resume on a job board. Some emails come from legitimate recruiters, but others may come from dishonest people trying to deceive you. Often, the dishonest ones ask you for sensitive information, such as identification or bank account numbers.
Unnecessary calls
A scam caller tends to call persistently, trying to pressure you into accepting what they're offering. Often, they claim you may lose the opportunity to apply for a job if you don't immediately respond or agree to the terms.
Unprofessional emails
Most legitimate companies employ professionals to handle their social media and email accounts. Wanting to make a good impression on their client, they tend to send well-written emails that provide all of the information a candidate may require. In contrast, scam emails often contain obvious errors and vague contact details.
Fake accounts and websites
Since almost anyone can open and operate a social media account or website, scammers commonly create online platforms for made-up employers or fake channels for real companies. An obvious warning sign concerning these accounts is that they're scant on information or only newly created.
1. Do your research
Before applying for a position, conduct thorough research on the company to establish its existence and verify identifying details. Use a search engine to find the employer's official website and social media pages, which can provide useful information that you can compare against what you find in job listings or emails. You might find, for example, the email handle of the employer's human resources department. If you received a recruitment email from a different handle, you can tell that the sender is a scammer. Read more: The Complete Guide to Researching a Company
2. Verify website security
You can avoid illegitimate jobs by verifying websites and their security measures. Make sure the web address includes "https://" at the beginning, not "http://." This verifies that the site is both authentic and secure. You can also determine how long the site has been active and who owns it by inputting its URL into a domain age and website registry tool.
3. Trust your instincts
If you remain suspicious of a job or employer even after your research, trust yourself. If you feel uncertain, uncomfortable or jeopardized by an opportunity, avoiding it is the best course of action. Even if you can confirm the company is real, your feelings may be a sign that your values and interests differ from the employer's.
1. Inform your bank
If the scammer stole your bank information, asked you to send a check or processed a charge on your credit card, call your bank immediately and tell them what happened. They may be able to cancel the check or reverse the fraudulent charges. They can also help you change your information to secure your account.
2. Block communications from the sender
It's important that the sender is unable to scam you any further. Most email providers allow you to block a sender and report their messages as spam. If the scammer called or text-messaged you, block their phone number, too.
3. Report the scam
The FTC collects information about potential scams to help other consumers and candidates. If you're comfortable sharing your experience, you can submit a report about the fraudulent company so the government can investigate it. If you see a fraudulent job advertised on a job board or search engine, it can be helpful to report the posting, too.
May 31, 2024 · May 31, 2024. (Getty Images) If you are applying for jobs online, do your research before accepting an interview or employment offer. Job scammers have gotten very sophisticated, convincingly...
Dec 30, 2023 · They may put pressure on their victims with fake urgent messages that encourage you to apply for debt relief "before it's too late." Then they'll charge you a hefty application fee. In reality, it's a scam. It costs nothing to apply for student loan forgiveness, so someone asking you to pay a fee could be a scammer.
Recently in Alberta, Canada, scammers created a fake law firm in an attempt to offer legal services. In this type of scenario, scammers create a fake website and send fake retainer agreements and engagement letters to potential clients, seeking payment of a retainer and release of confidential personal and financial information as part of a ...
People also ask
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Jan 9, 2024 · Scammers are constantly finding new ways to defraud unsuspecting individuals, and one common tactic is through phone call scams from fake lawyers. These scammers target people by pretending to be lawyers representing an opposing party in a lawsuit.
