Scam Alert! Be Careful About Who is Offering You Employment
, While reading some articles online today I came across one on AARP’s website that startled me. The article talks about how people have found steady work peddling phony jobs to people. That’s just crazy that some would be that comfortable in giving people false hope in finding a job during unstable times! These jobs are even posted on legitimate job boards and that is alarming! So just be careful about the jobs that your are applying for and always do your homework.
Here are the six red flags the article mentions:
- Requests for money upfront. The most common scheme, according to the BBB, is a demand that applicants pay for a “background check.” Legitimate companies do their own screening of applicants, at their own expense. Another ruse is asking for an upfront fee for a job-placement headhunter.
- Demands for your credit report. Legitimate employers often seek credit histories but don’t ask applicants to do the legwork. If you’re told to get your report through a particular website, the real purpose may be to glean personal information for identity theft. Also, beware of any requests for bank account or credit card information. As for your Social Security number, be prepared to disclose it on a real job application — one you personally turn in at a legitimate place of business — but you should never reveal it in response to an online or telephone request.
- Language designed to lure. “Easy” money working from home? “No experience needed?” So why are they advertising, and not already flooded with applicants? The same goes for too-good-to-be-true pay offers. Check actual pay ranges for various occupations at Salary.com or Paywizard.org. Although a realistic salary quote is no guarantee a job is real, the smart money is that industry-topping promises are bogus.
- Scammer grammar. Employment e-mails that contain grammatical and spelling errors are likely the work of overseas fraudsters who are outside the jurisdiction of U.S. law enforcement. Real employers use college-educated personnel reps, or at least a dictionary.
- Forwarding follies. You receive a check, along with an explanation that you can keep some of the money if you forward the rest to someone else. Beware: The check you deposit is fraudulent, and ultimately won’t be credited to your account. Meanwhile, the funds you forward are gone forever.Similar is the notorious “reshipping scam,” in which you’re promised payment for forwarding merchandise. But the goods you receive to send on have been stolen or purchased with stolen credit cards, and the thief is using you to screen his location. You could face criminal charges if you take part.
- Fake or appropriated names. Scammers often steal the names and logos of legitimate companies for phony postings on job boards. To be safe, check the company’s own website; in most cases, bona fide vacancies will also be listed there. Do your own typing to reach the company’s site — don’t click on links in e-mails or websites, as they may take you to counterfeit sites or infect your computer with a virus.
If you think that the company that you are applying to is not real, please check to make sure on one of these websites listed below:
bbb.org - http://www.bbb.org/
Dun & Bradstreet - http://www.dnb.com/us/
Hoovers.com - http://www.hoovers.com/
Tags: aarp, AARP article, help, job boards, job postings, job scams, Job Search Tips, job seekers, jobs, red flags, scam, scam alert, scams, tips