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Financial Wellness
The Rise of Job Offer Fraud
The modern job search comes with new risks and new scams. Knowing the signs of a job scam can protect your finances and identity.
Online job boards and remote work opportunities have made it easier to network and find employment. Unfortunately, it is also easier for scammers to pose as legitimate employers looking to steal your money and your personal information — or both!
Job application scams can look authentic at first glance. Fraudsters create convincing job listings, conduct fake interviews, and present offers that seem legitimate. If you’re looking for a job, protect yourself by knowing how job scams work, red flags to watch out for, and ways to stay safe.
Common Job Application Scams
Scammers are working overtime to try to trick you with fake job offers.
Paying to Start a Job.
In this scam, you may be asked to purchase materials or merchandise to assemble, sell, or advertise. Or they’ll demand an upfront fee for job placement or training.
» A legitimate employer will never ask you to transfer money from your account or buy something from a specific site.
Phishing for Your Data.
Criminals use phishing to get your personal and sensitive information to commit identity theft. You may be asked for your Social Security number or passport number very early in the application process. Or they may say they need your financial account details to set up payroll before you even receive an offer of employment in writing.
They might also prompt you to download documents or files related to the advertised job. Don’t do it! These files can contain malicious programs designed to capture private information or hold your files for ransom.
» Never share personal information until you’ve verified that the job offer is legitimate.
Handling Stolen Goods.
A scammer may try to get you to handle goods that are stolen or obtained illegally. They are using you to cover their tracks, making you an unwitting accomplice to a crime.
» Beware of any work from home opportunities that involve transferring or forwarding goods or money.
When looking for employment, be cautious of unsolicited job offers.
Watch Out for These Red Flags
When job hunting, watch out for these red flags of a scam.
- They make unrealistic promises like high pay for little work. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- The job involves handling money or merchandise from unknown sources. Steer clear of these reshipping or reselling scams. Be wary if someone asks you for money by wire transfer, gift cards, mobile payment app, or asks you to cash their check and send a portion of the money back.
- The job posting or email contains strange language or lacks information. Scrutinize any job posting. Poor grammar and spelling errors were once telltale signs of a scam. However, advances in AI allow fraudsters to produce polished, error-free messages, making scams more difficult to spot.
- The job listing is vague or inconsistent. Be skeptical if the listing lacks the company’s name and location.
- The recruiter uses a personal email address. A legitimate recruiter will always use a company email address, not a personal account. Be cautious if communication happens only through text or messaging apps.
- They are overly eager to hire. It’s a definite red flag if you receive an offer without a formal interview or shown why you’d be qualified for the job.
If You’re a Victim of a Scam
Take fast action!
- Call your financial institution immediately if you’ve sent money or provided account information to a scammer.
- Contact the job board or social media site where the listing appeared.
- File a report with the Federal Trade Commission or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Protect Yourself
Remember these tips and put scammers out of work!
- Research the company. Run a search with the company name plus the terms “scam,” “complaint,” and “reviews.”
- If you found a listing on a job board, verify the job is real by looking on the company’s official website.
- Never pay for a job opportunity. A legitimate employer will not ask for payment upfront.
- Never share sensitive personal or financial information before you’ve received, verified, and accepted a job offer.
Read more about protecting yourself against scams, fraud and identity theft through our Scam Awareness & Cyber Security articles.
