Do You Know… How to Avoid a Job Scam?
The Google Translate service is available at https://translate.google.com
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
Are you currently looking for a job? The volume of income-based scams increased significantly and has reached the highest levels on record in the second quarter of 2020, according to the data from the Federal Trade Commission. To protect yourself from being scammed, here are some tips to help you identify fake job offers:
Do an Online Search
Search the company before applying for the job. Look up its website, check sites such as Glassdoor or Indeed to see what others are saying about working for the organization. Alternatively, research the name of the company or the person who is hiring, plus the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” You might find out whether they have scammed other people.
Safeguard Personal Info.
Your social security number, bank account number, and birth date are all highly confidential personal information. You should not share them over email or phone. Scammers may ask you to fill out an online credit report form or provide confidential information so they can “put you on the company insurance.” That is a red flag that the job post may be identity theft trying to steal your personal information.
Never Bank On a “Cleared” Check
Scammers may send you a check and then tell you to deposit it in your bank account, then send part of the money or buy gift cards with it. That is a fake check scam. The check will bounce, and the bank will hold you accountable.
Vague Job Description
In order to attract a large group of people, scam job descriptions are usually so simple that almost everyone qualifies. The requirements may be as simple as being 18 years old, a citizen, and having internet access, without listing qualification requirements or years of experience. As a rule of thumb, if it is a real job, the requirements will be quite specific.
Contact Email Alert
If the job posting does not have its own domain for email or using third-party email, such as xxxx@gmail.com / xxxx@yahoo.com /xxxx@hotmail.com etc., that is a red flag for a job scam. In addition, look up the hiring company’s contact email on its official website, and compare an email listed on the job site. Be on your guard if the email looks different.
Too Good to Be True
"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch". If a job sounds too good to be true, trust your instincts. There is a high chance that it is a job scam.
Following these tips when you are searching for a job could possibly lower the risk of encountering a job scam. If you have any questions regarding the authenticity of a job listing, career counseling, mock interviews, job searching, or more, the RTC Career Services team is always here for you.
Contact us
CareerServices@RTC.edu (425) 235-2352 ext. 5717 1:1 appointments Links to an external site.