LinkedIn reports 50% of workers will actively look for a new job this year and most of those people will search online to find one.
Indeed, Glassdoor, Simply Hired, Monster, and LinkedIn are just a few places people look for jobs. But job scammers are everywhere and they’re upping their game to find new, clever, and appealing ways to trap people.
According to the Better Business Bureau, about 14 million people are exposed to an employment scam each year.
The Federal Trade Commission says scammers list jobs the same way as real companies and even have imposter HR people pretending to be from actual companies, conducting interviews via email or text.
The BBB reports one of the most common scams is a work-from-home job to receive and reship items. Many people who fall for this do the work and never get paid.
Fake checks, secret shopper, and caregiver scams are also frequently reported.
Here are the best ways to tell if a job is a scam:
- If you are asked to pay any fee or to purchase a new phone or laptop before starting your new job
- If you are required to provide your bank account information before you start the job
- If the job posting is not listed on the company’s website
- If the job description and requirements are vague
- If the pay seems high for the work to be done.
Experts say to always do an internet search on the company and make sure the website the recruiter shared matches the real website.
Also, consider setting up a second bank account so you aren’t giving out details to your main account.
Most importantly, insist on talking to the recruiter and future teammate in person or at least on a video chat.
The BBB says that if you must pay a fee, do anything out of the ordinary to get the job, or feel rushed to accept it, it’s likely a scam. If you become a victim of a job scam, report it to the Better Business Bureau at BBB.org/scamtracker.