The Fake Job Scam: Fraudsters entice victims with non-existent employment opportunities
Even when unemployment rates are low, scammers like baiting victims with non-existent jobs. Now that the unemployment rate is ticking upward, these scumbags are upping their game, betting that desperate job seekers will fall more easily for their nefarious schemes.
Criminals working this particular scam will send out emails and texts to potential victims, often posing as the human resources managers/directors of legitimate companies. They will entice their marks with a job announcement, even stating that they have received your résumé and that you are a “perfect candidate.” Some fraudsters may even conduct fake interviews, usually online via Zoom or some other platform.
The objective of this scam is to get you to fill out paperwork that includes your Social Security information and bank account information. The scammer might also offer to pay a “bonus” after you’ve been “hired.” They will send you a check that will quickly bounce once you attempt to cash it. They will even have the audacity to demand that you “reimburse” them for “overpayment.” They are hoping that you won’t cash the check immediately, but will send them the “reimbursement” (usually electronically) before you realize their check was made of rubber. Other fraudsters will ask for you to pay for training or worthless certifications, or even to cover shipment costs for equipment you may never receive.
What you can do to protect yourself
Websites like LinkedIn and Indeed do their best to keep an eye out for fake ads, but aren’t always able to catch every potential scam advertisement. If you are contacted by a recruiter representing a company, visit that company’s website directly and see if the job even exists. If it does, and you’re interested, apply via the the website. Also, as an added measure, check their list of HR employees and recruiters to verify if this person works for that specific company. You can also contact the company directly for that verification. Also be sure to verify the process for submitting a job application.
More Information
From the Federal Trade Commission:
Job Scams Explained
Scammers might promise you a job, lots of money, or work you can do at home. What they really want is your money or personal information. Learn how to spot a job scam.
How do I know a job is a scam?
It can be hard to tell if a job is real or a scam.
Scammers post fake jobs in online ads, on social media, and even on job search websites. They sometimes make the ads look like they’re from real companies. They do this to try to get money or personal information from you.
But job scams have some things in common. Look for these signs of a job scam:
• Scammers promise you a job but ask you to pay first. If someone asks you to pay to get a job, that’s a scam.
• Scammers guarantee you’ll make lots of money. If someone claims you’ll make lots of money fast working just a few hours a day, that’s probably a scam.
• Scammers tell you to pay a certain way. They’ll often insist you can only pay with a gift card, cryptocurrency, a payment app, or a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram. Paying these ways is like using cash. Once you pay, it’s hard to get your money back.
Job scammers are looking to hire you
Scammers are always “hiring” but don’t actually want to employ you. Instead, they want your money, personal information, or both. Here’s how to spot and avoid a job scam.
Scammy recruiters who claim to be recruiting for a big-name employer often reach out by email or text with a remote job offer — sometimes from a personal phone number or email account. You might get an email with an official-looking invitation for a virtual interview along with information about your job duties and job benefits.
From Indeed.com:
17 Common Job Scams and How To Protect Yourself
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.
From the FBI website:
Cryptocurrency Job Scams
Cryptocurrency job scams begin when scammers, masquerading as employees of legitimate companies, recruit victims for work-from-home, online-only positions. When a victim expresses interest, the scammer provides online training. Once trained, the victim will begin to perform a series of tasks to receive a salary and commission.
These tasks vary from scheme to scheme—but they all require the victim to deposit their own money, via cryptocurrency or money transfers, into a platform for the job to be completed.
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