Job Scams to Watch Out For

John Krautzel
Posted by in Career Advice


When you're out of work, any prospective job opening may seem worth pursuing. However, it's all too easy to fall for employment scams perpetrated by con artists trying to steal your money, personal information or services. Keep an eye out for some common job scams that have clear warning signs. Take a look at some of the red flags that should put you on high alert when you're looking for a job.

Holiday Job Scams

Job scams frequently pop up at the holiday season, a time when many retail and delivery firms hire extra staff. You might get an email announcing that a company is offering unusually high wages for the holiday season. The company's need is so great, the email claims, that the firm is inviting you to apply online, without even going into the store.

Be aware that this email is almost certainly not from the company it claims. If you fill out the online application, you have actually handed your personal information over to scammers. By applying for the non-existent job, you have set yourself up for identity theft. In some cases, even clicking the link to the fake application triggers malware to be loaded onto your computer or mobile device.

Fake Jobs

Some con artists make fake employment posts look legitimate by using a real company's name. You might see a job posting for a company whose name you recognize. The job description looks legitimate, with no signals to warn you away. Once you respond to the ad, however, you may be contacted by a person claiming to be a hiring manager who starts asking for personal information, possibly including banking or credit card numbers. Never disclose personal financial information to recruiters or hiring personnel.

Sometimes, these scams are very complicated and extremely well executed. You might click through a job listing on a respected job board and come across a website that look absolutely legitimate. Take one more step to protect yourself by checking with a website such as Whois.net to find out who really owns the domain in question. If you find the website is registered in a foreign country, run the other way. You've just stumbled upon a scam.

Online Interviews

Another fairly new scam involves the use of an online interview or an instant messenger program. While you may be asked to interview by Skype for a job that's located outside of your immediate geographic area, any legitimate employment search is likely to require a follow-up in-person interview as well. If you're offered a job without ever meeting your prospective employer face to face, it's likely that you're being scammed. In some versions of this scam, the job actually requires you to perform illegal actions such as transporting stolen money or goods across state lines or out of the country.

Government Job Scams

One commonplace scam that is designed to steal a small amount of money from a large number of people involves an offer to sell a bogus list of federal jobs. Often the jobs are advertised as undisclosed opportunities that are only available to purchasers of the list. However, be aware that all jobs with the federal government are posted at USAJobs.gov. The site is free to visit and use by anyone.

As a rule of thumb, you should avoid giving out personal information to anyone you don't know until you've done sufficient research to confirm that the person you're dealing with is legitimate. Never pay out any amount of money to get a job application process started. Job applicants are not responsible for the cost of drug tests, background checks or similar hiring expenses. While scammers grow more sophisticated every year, if you stay on the alert and don't get overly excited about job offers that seem too good to be true, you can avoid getting off track. Be wary, and stay focused on the real prize: a legitimate job with a real company.

Photo Courtesy of Heidi Go Seek at Flickr.com

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  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Wanda thanks for your comment. I have to say that I am surprised that your college would have allowed scams to be posted. I hope you brought it to their attention. Not all virtual/work from home jobs are scams. You just have to do your research. I have found that, if it's a scam, someone else has already been scammed and will have posted about it on the Internet. Typically the fact that it's a scam will come up in the first 10 results of your search. Always research the company before applying. And don't give them any personal information outside of your name and email address until you can determine if the job is real or not.

  • Wanda P.
    Wanda P.

    Unfortunately, I learned this lesson the hard way. I applied for internships on the campus job board and on Internships.com. I applied for four different jobs and they were all fake. Now I am leery of any virtual jobs and work at home jobs.

  • Lauri Anderson
    Lauri Anderson

    Just took a territory sales position in June..4 day training with 300+ products and no prior setup beyond a few sales 1-4 years prior. Said they would pay gas and salary for a year, but 9 weeks in have cut me to no money for any prospecting and went to strictly commission. United Laboratories Inc, Chicago area. Any feedback on others taken in?

  • Brenda H.
    Brenda H.

    I signed. on to be a mystery shopper. Yes I knew this would probably be a scam. Sure enough I was fedexs a check for over 2900 $. All I needed to do was deposit in my acct (told that it was mine to keep) I was supposed to send a fax of my deposit slip. Then they would have cleared out my acct. and a day or two later my bank would call and say that the deposited check is no good. SO PEOPLE BEWARE!!!!! I am returning the envelope w/ check unopened.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    Thanks for the comments. So glad that you were paying attention @Natalie and @David so that you didn't get scammed. So true - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That truly is the bottom line.

  • Natalie T.
    Natalie T.

    this is fantastic information someone tried to get me with a scam through google hang out, but I knew it was a scam they offer me a job without ever wanting too meet me.

  • JEJE O.
    JEJE O.

    This is an eye opener.It is good to know.Thanks

  • Davida Chamberlin-Elliott
    Davida Chamberlin-Elliott

    Thank you. I have hot by numerous scams and luckily avoided them. Trust me it was not because I wasn't concerned about a job but I have learned that if it seems too good to be true it more than likely is.

  • Sammie F.
    Sammie F.

    GIVE YOUR BEST - Always keeping your eyes open to the next growth opportunity.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    Thanks for the comments. @Sharon you are right. If you see a job that says anyone can do it and you can earn $1000 a day - RUN! Okay maybe that was excessive but you get the point. Why would any company pay you $1000/wk to read emails? Common sense - always. @Cindie I am not sure why the headhunter would ask for the last 4 digits of your social. I probably would say no or at least ask why he needs it. If he was doing a background check on you, he would need your complete social but that's only after you confirm that he is who he says he is. So, in my opinion, the answer to your question is no. If he asks you for it and pressures you, ask him why he needs it and then you can decide for yourself. Best of luck.

  • Sharon B.
    Sharon B.

    Great article. If you are looking for jobs then don't go for any job that seems to be tempting especially if it gives loads of money for small work.

  • Cindie C.
    Cindie C.

    is it typical for Headhunters to ask for last4 digiit of social# ?

  • Lisa R.
    Lisa R.

    This is good to know. Thanks.

  • Christina M.
    Christina M.

    Awesome information!! Thanks so much.

  • Clifton D.
    Clifton D.

    Thank you for the heads up.

  • Danette Polk
    Danette Polk

    Thank you

  • Glenn R.
    Glenn R.

    How about fake opportunity of serving your country, thinking your United States military personal, although you're really on disability paying VA illegal subsidies on your unbeknownst fake disease diagnosis of addiction, diabetes, or homosexuality

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Kay thanks for your comment. So sorry that you feel prey to these scavengers! I, too, have come close but realized it before it was too late. Just something about the responses that I got when I asked questions made me stop and think - do I want to pursue this?! Sometimes just listening to that little voice in your head is enough to keep you from getting into trouble.

  • Kay Warner
    Kay Warner

    I have been "sucked in" so many times. It's easy when you are desperate for work and you are vulnerable. I now know how to spot the "junk" mail and that's just where it goes!

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Cheryl thanks for your comment and insight. It truly is a shame that there are so many scammers out there and so many job seekers so desperate for a job that fall victim to these vultures. Working from home is tough as you work in relative isolation. It truly is not for everyone. I used to be like you - be surprised that anyone would take advantage of a person who is trying to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads but these scammers could care less about that. All they want is our money. After seeing so many job ads from scammers I have learned what to watch for. If a company, such as yours, is legitimate, they don't need to use the term "legitimate" anywhere in the job posting. If a company requires you to have a bank account - run. If they ask if you can send and receive packages - run. If there are misspelled words in the posting - run. If they tell you that you can earn $10,000/mo - run faster!

  • Cheryl R.
    Cheryl R.

    It grieves me to see so many people being scammed when a livelihood is so essential to a job seeker. I work from home and I own a legitimate business and I do recruit a sales staff. I would say at least 75% of the people I've talked to have been scammed and are very suspicious,That negativity makes it difficult for them to get work and it makes it difficult for me to consider them. I make it a policy to give full disclosure and have a conversation which accurately portrays the job and what it's like to work from home. Some would say that I'm reducing my number of potential salespeople, however, working from home really isn't for everybody and the amount of time I'd spend in training someone who will ultimately drop out has to be factored in. I'm continually surprised by anyone who would harm a genuine applicant who really needs an income.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Kathy that's so true. But even further are the "recruiter" calls that you get where the person on the other end clearly is NOT from the US and they want to talk with me about an opportunity. I never answers those because I know it's going to be a very frustrating call. If they are interested in me, they will normally send an email to follow up the phone call. Yeah if someone asked me if I was a citizen, I would be taking names and reporting them. I have had to report several of these companies to the Attorney General. Don't be afraid to do this, either. Report them. Maybe nothing will ever happen but you will be able to move on with the knowledge that you did something to get them to shut down.

  • Kathy Ann Andre
    Kathy Ann Andre

    apart from the job scams, there are the calls which pick up on a foreign accent and their next question is "are you a us citizen". it seems that they are preying on illegal immigrants, who might get so tied into the scam they are being offered and then they begin to harass and provoke these people, by demanding money and threats to have them arrested and so on.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson

    @Jaichand thanks for your comment. For the experience, maybe you can draw on part-time work that you did to finance your college tuition or maybe you did a project in one or more of your classes? You can include those. The hiring manager is going to be able to see, right away, that you are a fresh graduate with minimal experience. Everyone thinks that this is a new concept but it's always been this way. How can I get a job if I don't have experience and how can I get experience if I don't have a job. I encountered the same thing many many years ago and I made it through. You have to see YOU.

  • jaichand n.
    jaichand n.

    i had my graduation in aeronautical in 2016. To apply any airlines in INDIA they're asking for experience. Now what i have to do

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