Job scams are on the rise, and with unemployment trending higher, plus many graduating students entering the workforce this year, it’s good to learn how to spot them early.

One red flag is getting an unsolicited offer.  It’s hard enough to get a reply when you actually apply for a job, so to get contacted out of nowhere is suspicious.  If someone contacts you, who you do not know, and likely does not know your credentials, there’s a 51 percent chance it’s a scam.

OFWs warned vs third country hiring scam

The sad thing is when you are looking for a job, and badly need one, any offer that comes your way is too good to pass.   And that’s exactly what the fraudsters are hoping for: your attention and the chance to hook you in and steal your personal information and money too.

The problem with scam offers is that they are getting better and better, and starting to look like they are legit. It’s no longer just a text message, but you can get an email with a logo from what seems to be a real company, or a targeted call from a recruitment agency representing a reputable firm.

They even schedule interviews, and possibly after some time has passed will send you an offer.  It would seem you finally got hired, or on your way to a better job with better pay.

So how do you know it’s a scam? Here are 7 signs that can expose the fraudsters.

#1 Using personal email

Check if the email being used to contact you is a personal one, and not a company account. Legitimate recruiters would typically use their company email for professional communication, and that includes speaking with a prospect employee.  

If you are exchanging emails with someone using a personal email from free domains like @gmail.com, @yahoo.com, or @aol.com, that’s one danger sign.

#2 Contacting you via social media or messaging apps

Some scammers prefer to use messaging apps, and we can only guess at how they got hold of our numbers. Others look for their next victims through social media networks.

My personal rule is to block and report these contacts.  But if you are curious, and want to know if they are legitimate, you can go to the website of the company they claim to be representing and verify if these job offers exist.  

You can also try to call the company’s Human Resources, and ask about the offer you received.

Campaign launched vs fraud, scams

#3 Asking for personal information

Recruiters naturally need more information about you to check if you are a fit for their company.  But if you are being asked for personal information even before they share details about the job opening, or before you even give your professional background, that’s shady and points to possible identity theft.  

Recruiters do not need your government-issued IDs early in the search so be careful not to give details and copies of your passport or driver’s license.  

#4 High pay, work from home and no experience needed

When the job offer is too good to be true, it likely is.  Let’s face it – who would give high pay and require no experience plus flexible work hours?  

In the employment world, pay is determined by the skills you bring to the job. Plus the global pandemic is over.  So while there are companies that accommodate work from home, majority now expect employees, especially highly paid ones, to show up at the office.

#5 Hang on to your money

Not only do scammers try to steal your personal information, they’ve also come up with many ways to get you to pay up.  

Other victims have complained about receiving an invoice for office equipment that would be assigned to them such as a laptop, and being asked to pay for it first. Scammers assured them they will be reimbursed later by the company. But no laptop was delivered, and their money was gone with the missing recruiter.

Legitimate job offers should not ask you to pay for anything before you are hired, so hang on to your wallet.

#6 Don’t fall for pocket change

The scammers also use a trick of tempting you with small commissions by doing easy jobs online, such as completing surveys, giving reviews or liking social media posts. 

You may get paid for this, but later you can expect the scammer to ask for your personal information and even bank details so you can earn higher commissions. That’s your cue to be careful, and think twice about sharing any information that can harm you later.  

To send you money, all they need is your bank account number or electronic wallet mobile number right?  The more details they ask for, the more you should be wary, and possibly quit while you are ahead.

#7 What’s the rush?

One tell of a scam offer is when you are being rushed to make a decision. These fraudsters will push you to say yes to the job offer, and share your government IDs, or pay for a “training” that you need before you start.   They will say many others are in the running and you could lose out.  

If you’ve applied for other jobs before, you know that employers take their time in making an offer.  It’s very rare that job offers are made quickly, and when they are, you’re either the next big thing or it could just be coming from a scammer.

These tips can give you a head start, but the best protection is to not trust anyone that contacts you out of nowhere – for anything.  

If you’re not sure if you’re dealing with a job scam and would like to check, take note of the company they say they are representing. Then call that company based on their published contact details. If it turns out to be a scam, block the contact right away.

Let’s put scammers out of work, for good, one block at a time.