Starting a new career is an exciting time, but there are some common job scams to watch out for. Unethical people want to take advantage of you when you’re trying to do the best thing for your family. However, you can avoid job scams if you know the warning signs. Learn more about fraudulent companies to dodge scams on Instagram, PayPal scams, job scams on Indeed, get rich quick schemes, and other traps.
How Do I Know If A Job Is Legit?
It can be hard to tell if a job is the real deal, especially in today’s digital marketplace. Almost every modern job posting is online. You can find millions of posts when you log onto any job site. Most of these listings are for companies you’ve never heard of, which makes it hard to know who to trust.
Unfortunately, fake job listings can look just like real applications. This is why there are so many job scams on Indeed and other online sites. Are you wondering, how do I know if a job is legit? Examine postings using these tips to avoid job scams.
Research The Company To Avoid Job Scams
It’s exciting to find a job listing that you like. Don’t click auto-apply as soon as you finish reading the description, though! First, look up the company name to learn more about the business. Add keywords like “review” or “scam” to find specific details. Hopefully, you’ll find good news, but you might find other people’s bad experiences instead.
Don’t Fall For Get Rich Quick Schemes
If a job opportunity sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers know that job hunters are trying to make money. Con artists take advantage of your hopes to rip you off. You should be suspicious of anyone who promises huge rewards in a short time. Watch out for any company that promises you a six-figure salary with no experience, luxury cars, trips, fast retirement, and other fantasy perks.
Mom Gets A Job recommends stable, well-paying careers that you can start with a short training period, not get rich quick schemes. Our favorite careers like dental assisting pay more than the US median income. They won’t pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in your first month, but they also won’t rip you off.
Avoid PayPal Scams And Other Salary Traps
If you’re wondering whether a job is legit or not, ask how you’ll get paid. Most modern jobs will pay you with direct deposit to a bank account or debit card. Getting paid in another way is a clear sign of a ripoff. Watch out for jobs that want to pay you using gift cards, merchandise, or cash under the table.
Another common scam involves sending money to someone else. If a company ever offers to send you a check that includes your salary and money for another purpose, it’s a con. The scammer is sending you a fake check. They want you to deposit the check and send money to someone else before the bank realizes the check is bad. Once the bank catches on, they’ll want you to pay back the entire thing.
Upfront Costs In Job Scams
Real companies pay their employees, not the other way around. You should never have to pay your new company for anything you need to do your job. This includes training, inventory, materials, membership fees, website costs, meeting dues, or any other costs.
Legitimate employers are happy to pay for uniforms, training materials, office supplies, and other costs of doing business. If you’re asked to pay for any of this out of your own pocket, run away.
Common Job Scams To Watch Out For
Believe it or not, moms are big targets for job scammers. If you’re like many parents, you might feel torn between spending time with your family and earning money to support them. Scammers love to take advantage of these complicated feelings. Watch out for common job scams targeted right at moms.
Reselling Merchandise Scams
Reselling cons usually start when someone reaches out to you about a job opportunity. This person offers you a so-called amazing opportunity by buying brand-name goods at a discount, then selling them at full price. It sounds like a great deal, especially if the products are something you already use. (For example, makeup, clothing, or bath and body products.)
But after you pay for your items, you’re caught in a trap. The items either never arrive, they’re not what you were promised, or people don’t want to buy them.
Reselling scams are one of the sneakiest job scams to watch out for. These schemes can involve complete strangers, but they also lure in people you know. Friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and other people you know might try to recruit you when they’re caught in these scams. Remember, you should never need to buy inventory when you’re joining someone else’s company, even if you’re in a sales position.
How To Avoid Merchandise Reselling Scams
Merchandise reselling scams are like get-rich-quick schemes. Running a store or designing products takes lots of time, research, money, and energy. Business owners aren’t successful overnight. Watch out for unrealistic promises whenever someone offers you a reselling opportunity.
Shipping Job Scams
Another popular WFH scam involves reshipping items. In this scam, your so-called job is to receive items in the mail, throw out the packaging, and send the item to a new address. The items are usually expensive electronics or designer items, and they’re always stolen. Your actual role in this scam is to move stolen merchandise while hiding the paper trail.
You might see theft rings advertising personal assistant jobs or virtual quality control managers. The con artists may tell you that they’re supporting international clients or running a logistics company. However, they’re really moving stolen goods around the world.
Shipping scams can get you involved in illegal activity, so stay away from them. Even worse, shipping scammers won’t pay you for your work. Even if they do send you a check, it will bounce before you can use the money.
How To Avoid Shipping Job Scams
Don’t take a job that involves sending materials to someone else through the mail. Real businesses use professional shipping services for international mail, not virtual assistants. If you’ve already taken a job like this, cut off contact immediately! You can report your experience to the Federal Trade Commission, your bank, or the local law enforcement for more help.
Identify Theft Scams
Some scammers are trying to steal your identity instead of your money. These criminals set up fake job postings, hold fake interviews, and even pretend to hire you. Then they ask for personal details like your birthday, address, bank account, Social Security number, and more. Instead of using this info to set you up as an employee at your new job, they’ll ghost you and steal your identity.
These scams can be extremely hard to spot because they look just like real job postings. Identity scammers pose as recruiters, managers, and interviewers. The fake company may have a website and social media accounts so they look good online.
How To Avoid Identity Theft Scams
Google a company before applying for a job with them. Don’t just look at their website or Facebook account and stop there. Look for reviews on third-party sites like GlassDoor, Yelp, and Google. You can also search for the company’s name and “scam” to see if anyone reports a con.
Call your bank, credit card companies, and all your other financial institutions ASAP if your identity has been stolen. These companies can help secure your accounts to keep your money safe.
References
Federal Trade Commission. (2020, December). Job scams. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams
Federal Trade Commission. (2020, October). What to do if you were scammed. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed