Being unemployed and conducting endless job searches is nobody’s idea of a good time. To make matters worse, the nation is currently struggling with both high layoffs and a sluggish job market. Those seeking a new job often find themselves subjected to the unenviable grind of sifting through job postings, making themselves as desirable as possible to potential employers, and hoping to secure an interview. Rejections are never the desired outcome, but at least they’re better than being ghosted.
Adding insult to injury, data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shows that the number of reported job scams rose sharply over the last year. Preying on desperate job hunters, fraudsters have increasingly used job offers made through text messages and job board sites like LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter to make victims believe they’re dealing with a legitimate employer. Instead, the grifters engage in identity theft, wire fraud, and employment scams designed to win them access to an applicant’s bank account or banking information.
When a rent or mortgage payment is looming, it’s more tempting to consider a job listing despite obvious red flags. Some fake job offers are becoming increasingly sophisticated. It can be difficult to differentiate between a fake job opportunity and a real one when the scammers are using clever variants of a company’s name, company’s website, or a spoofed email address. If that online job posting or text from a “recruiter” sounds too good to be true, well, then it probably is.
We Know Our Offer Is Twice What You Expected, but That’s Because You’re Worth It
Job hunters are often desperate and vulnerable, which makes them ripe targets for swindlers. Despite efforts by job sites to weed out the deceptive and fraudulent fake job offers, they continue to proliferate as a bane to those just trying to find a job.
Con artists employ multiple tactics to attempt to lure victims into their deceitful schemes. A common approach is to contact those seeking work through either text or email through phishing. They’ll also post on job sites, offering positions with a high rate of pay, attractive options like remote work, and other benefits. There’s often a link to what appears to be an official website, along with email addresses that seem legitimate.
The hiring process, along with fake onboarding, is when scammers are most likely to attempt to obtain a victim’s Social Security number, credit card information, phone number, and other personal details. They may request to make a small deposit into the victim’s bank account, which can give them access to drain it completely instead.
An interview request may include a handy link that’s a trap, allowing them to download malicious spyware onto a computer or mobile device. Other job scams can involve the new “employer” sending a fake check that’s for too much and instructing the victim to send back the difference.
These possible scams may seem obvious to others, but the desire to find employment to stave off financial hardship can sometimes cloud judgment and lead to risky decisions that don’t end well. With job losses and new employment numbers both trending in the wrong direction, fraudsters will likely have an even larger pool of potential victims to prey on.
There Might Be a Free Lunch Somewhere, but This Isn’t It
Looking for employment can be a dejecting and soul-crushing experience, and scammers are looking to take advantage of that bleakness. Knowing what to look out for can keep a costly financial mistake from occurring.
If a job posting offers a pay rate way over the industry norm, it could be a lure cast by a scammer. How quickly things progress can also be an indicator. Going from submitting an application to having a text-based “interview” the same day is a warning sign that something fishy might be going on.
When you have doubts about the legitimacy of an employment position or a job offer, step outside of the process you’re engaging in and contact the company’s HR or fraud department directly. Detail what’s happening and ask if an opening for the position you’re applying for actually exists, or if your contact person really works there.
Do your due diligence before offering any private information or allowing access to your bank accounts. Brush up on what types of scams are surging through the FTC’s data, and share the fraud you’ve encountered at the FTC’s fraud site. You can also express concerns and ask questions through your state’s Office of the Attorney General.
Hunting for new employment is rarely enjoyable, but falling victim to a scam while doing so is something nobody wants to experience. Your perfect job may be waiting for you, but make sure it’s real before committing to anything.
Related Resources
- White-Collar Crime (FindLaw’s Criminal Law)
- 3 Things To Do Before You Accept a Job Offer (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
- What You Need To Know About Online Scamming and the Law (Findlaw’s Criminal Charges)
