CHARLESTON, S.C. - As many Americans adjust to the ‘new normal’ presented by an ongoing global pandemic, scammers are also adapting their deceptive methods to yield themselves the opportunity to steal your identity and your money. During this time of crisis, people have lost their jobs; there is fear and a sense of urgency. Fraud artists thrive during times such as this, but you can be cognizant of all the traps to prevent yourself from falling victim.
Do not be fooled by the tactics of scammers as you prepare for that next job opportunity or seek assistance with honing your job skills and exploring career aspirations.
-
Beware of sketchy, suspicious job descriptions.
If it is a job description that reads too good to be true, you should do some homework before providing them with your personal identifiable information (PII). Be wary of “work from home,” “work-at-home” or “quick money” job ads and jobs that promise a lot of money for not a lot of work.Glaring grammatical or spelling errors in the job posting are other red flags. Other key phrases to be aware of are “unlimited earning potential” and “investment opportunities” tagged along with the promise of drastic overnight financial gain.
-
Question the hiring urgency.
While there are some companies that have publicly acknowledged that they are looking to hire employees quickly and immediately in order to meet the demands of the current pandemic, you should be leery of job offers that come without verification of past work experience or a request for references.The proper process to hire takes time, and professional businesses want to hire the right people. You should expect the hiring process to take time and question any intense urgency in the wording of a job ad or application or any aggressive communication from a recruiter within the company’s organization.
-
Upfront fees or personal information requested.
It is probably fraudulent, if they request you to send a payment for an application, a background check, or some sort of employee processing fee or upfront employee expenses.A scammer will also request personal identification information (social security number, bank account, home address, phone number, and date of birth) early in the interview process or prior to completing the hiring procedures.Legitimate jobs issue formal employment documents that outline terms and conditions of the job including the agreed upon salary and any added amenities.After you agree to the terms of hire, you receive a request for tax documentation (W-2, W-9, 1099). This is also the point when you share personal and banking information say for instance, direct deposit information.
-
Examine the method of communication
Be cognizant of personal emails from commercial internet providers like (Gmail and Yahoo) or emails that mimic a real company.Scammers might request an online interview via email or a chat with you through Google Hangout, but a recruiter may reach out through a professional job builder networking site resource like LinkedIn.Initially, the communication may begin with email then transfer to phone most likely resulting in a video conference interview. Legit companies will not hire someone without having a phone, in-person and/or video conference interview.
-
If it feels too good to be true, it probably is
Promises of sudden wealth, rags-to-riches stories that showcase high-flying lifestyles, celebrity and public figure endorsements, or exaggerated compensation offers are signs that the job is probably too good to be true. Remember that the promise of a job is not the same thing as a job.If you have to pay for the promise, it is likely a scam.
Scammers know that finding a job can be tough, particularly during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. To trick people looking for honest work, scammers often advertise where real employers and job placement firms do.
Research the company online and look up the names of the people who may have contacted you. If it is a company you have never heard of, look them up on the Better Business Bureau website. Two other resources to use if you think you are being scammed are the Better Business Bureau's Scam Tracker and the Federal Trade Commission's Complaint Assistant.
To find more tips for dealing with scammers visit Federal Trade Commission Scam Alerts page
Do not be deterred from job seeking by scammers. Be aware of them and move forward with building your job skills.
With a little bit of practice and self-patience, you will be ready to take on the next steps in your future career. If you would like more information about how to apply for jobs online, assistance in finding resources, tips on how to get the job-hunting process started or more, please reach out to us at CCPL by email, chat, or text. You may also call us at 843-805-6930, leave at voice message, and a library staff member will return your call. Remember, you are not alone.