Fraudulent job postings have around since the beginning of online job boards. However, with the COVID 19 pandemic and a volatile job market, there are some who are taking advantage of these circumstances for financial gains. Here are some common job scams so you can recognize them and avoid applying and/or sharing your personal information with untrustworthy sources.

Common Job Scams

• Fake job postings: Fake postings can come in many forms and, while most job sites have an approval process to prevent scammers for sharing illegitimate jobs, some can still slip through. Be especially cautious with ads on social media as anyone can create those. If you try to apply, you may be asked to pay money in order to send in your application. Good rule of thumb: you should never have to pay to apply for a job.
• Imposter: a stranger pretends to be someone you know or reach out, saying they’re a recruiter from a real company. If the person is asking for personal information, it’s a red flag. Pay attention to the email address as well. If you don’t recognize the domain the email was sent from or if it’s spelled incorrectly, it’s not legit. (For more information on email domains and phishing, read 7 Ways to Recognize Phishing Emails).
• Scapegoating: In these scams, you may apply for a job that seems legitimate but the work activity itself turns out to be connected with illegal activity. Two examples are package fraud, where workers are asked to pick up or ship packages, and work-from-home check-printing.
• MLM and Pyramid schemes: MLMs (multi-level marketing) and pyramid schemes both use a similar premise – they require workers to pay a certain amount in start-up costs and work in person-to-person sales. You will be asked to find new clients or customers not currently buying the product you are selling and be paid on commission for how much you sell. These schemes will heavily lean into the gig economy, hustle culture, and how much money you can make for little work. While MLMs are not strictly illegal and some well-known brands use this structure to sell their product, it can produce a lot of false ideas and financial loss for those looking for an easy job. For more on MLMs, check out “Multi-Level Marketing Business and Pyramid Schemes” from the Federal Trade Commission.
• Job placement services and career counseling: There are many, many legitimate organizations that can help you find a job and provide career counseling. However, if any of them are asking for fees to review your resume or for their services, be cautious. Never pay for a job or the promise of employment.

Some Parting Advice

I’ve had a lot of jobs before I made my way to Augsburg. I’ve applied for thirty jobs at a time. I’ve applied for jobs on Craigslist. I almost had an interview with a pyramid scheme group. It can be very, very easy to fall for scammers, especially when you’re worried about finding a job, you’re tired of searching, and/or you’re anxious about being able to support yourself and others. Here’s some tips I’d share from the many jobs I’ve looked at and/or applied for:

• Does the pay sound too high or the benefits too good? Err on the side of caution – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Is the information about the company or job description vague? Is there little on their website or they don’t even have a website? When you use a search engine to find information about the company, do see a number of posts from people on Reddit, LinkedIn, Better Business Bureau, or other networking sites warning you away? Red flags all around.
• Flashy Tik-Toks or Instagram posts, Facebook ads, and influencer sponsorship doesn’t mean that a job or company is trustworthy. Anyone can make content on social media and it’s best to be cautious when engaging with opportunities there.
• Go with your gut. Trust yourself to know what feels right and assert your boundaries. If a stranger claiming to be a recruiter reaches out to you, investigate their LinkedIn profile. Don’t hesitate to ghost them or block them if they are being relentless.

I hope this helps you all in your job searching. The Strommen Center is always here for any support you need, including vetting possible job opportunities! For more information on job searching scams, check out our “Identifying Fraudulent Job and Internship Postings” resource.

Sources

Good jobs, scam jobs: Detecting, normalizing, and internalizing online job scams during the COVID-19 pandemic – Sage Journals

11 Common job search scams and how to avoid them – Indeed

Taking the “ploy” out of employment scams – FTC (Federal Trade Comission)

Job Scams – FTC