Many people are now searching for work. If you are looking for employment, beware of scam job postings, fake recruiter emails and work-at-home schemes. These cons often use real company names and can be very convincing. It may look as though you are starting a great new career, but you are really giving personal information or money to scammers.
How the Scams Work:
You spot a Help Wanted ad online or receive an email or a text message from an “employer” asking you to apply for a position. The ad likely uses the name of a real business or government agency. Companies small and large—even the Better Business Bureau itself—have been impersonated. You apply and get a quick response from the “hiring manager.” In recent versions of this scam, many victims report doing a phony interview through Google Hangouts or another video chat service.
After you are “hired,” the company may charge you upfront for “training.” You may need to provide your personal and banking information to run a credit check or set up direct deposit. You may be “accidentally” overpaid with a fake check and asked to deposit the check and wire back the difference. You may also be told that you need to buy expensive equipment and supplies to work at home.
Listen to your gut instincts and ask for an opinion from family and friends if you are unsure about an offer. If you question the company about their methods, you’ll likely be met with a defensive response. But don’t give into the pressure and follow their demands. The job isn’t real!
An Employment Scam, Illustrated
Christine, a San Diego resident, was looking for some extra income in 2020 to support her family when she received what looked like an incredible offer of employment.
“I was emailed by this company called BSJ Shipper,” Christine told the BBB. “I accepted the job due to COVID-19 financial hardship. I worked for them for almost two months.”
Christine’s job involved receiving, inspecting and resending packages on behalf of her employer—which conveniently could be done remotely. Things took a turn, though, when Christine’s payday came and went with nothing sent her way. Christine contacted BSJ to inquire, but the company cut off all communication.
“Here comes today, Monday; all of a sudden [I can’t] log into the dashboard that was provided,” wrote Christine.
It turns out that Christine had been caught up in a re-shipping scheme, through which scammers fool unsuspecting “employees” into shipping goods purchased with stolen banking information along a complex route through the postal system. This complicates law enforcement’s efforts to trace them.
These scams are frighteningly common; a 2020 BBB report found that 65% of fake online job postings are related to becoming a “warehouse distribution coordinator” or a similarly-titled position involving package reshipment.
Christine advises consumers with the maxim, “If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.”
– Some positions are more likely to be scams. Always be wary of work-from-home, package reshipment and secret shopper positions, as well as any job with a generic title such as caregiver, administrative assistant or customer service rep. Positions that don’t require special training or licensing appeal to a wide range of applicants. Scammers know this and use these otherwise legitimate titles in their fake ads. If the job posting is for a well-known brand, check the real company’s job page to see if the position is posted there. Look online; if the job comes up in other cities with the exact same post, it’s likely a scam.
– Different procedures should raise your suspicion. Any sort of pressure to sign or onboard is a red flag, as legitimate companies will understand that employment choices are big decisions. Watch out for on-the-spot job offers. You may be an excellent candidate for the job, but beware of offers made without an interview. A real company will want to talk to a candidate before hiring. Be careful if a company promises you great opportunities or a big income under the condition that you pay for coaching, training, certifications or directories.
– Never deposit unexpected or fishy checks. Be cautious sharing any kind of personal information (including your banking and credit cards) or accepting any kind of pre-payment. Don’t fall for an overpayment scam; no legitimate job would ever overpay an employee and ask for money to be wired elsewhere.
– Government agencies post all jobs publicly and freely. The U.S. and Canadian federal governments and the U.S. Postal Service and Canada Postal Service never charge for information about jobs or applications for jobs. Be wary of any offer to give you special access or guarantee you a job for a fee—if you are paying for the promise of a job, it’s probably a scam.
– Get all details and contracts in writing. A legitimate recruiter will provide you with a complete contract for their services with cost, what you get, who pays (you or the employer), and what happens if you do not find a job.
To report a scam, go to bbb.org/scamtracker.
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There are real jobs out there for those looking for work. Businesses currently offering legitimate employment opportunities in Murfreesboro include:
