Job Scam Warnings

In keeping with Fraud Prevention Month, here are more things you need to know about job scams.

Scammers advertise jobs the same way legitimate employers do — online (in ads, on job sites, and social media), and sometimes in newspapers, on TV and radio. They promise a job, but what they want is your money and your personal information.

Here are some examples of jobs scams:

Work-from-home job scams: Many people would like to work from home and generate income. Scammers know this, so they place ads, often online, claiming that they have jobs where you can make thousands of dollars a month working from home with little time and effort. If someone claims you can make a lot of money in a short period of time and with little work, that’s a scam.

Nannies, caregivers, personal assistants: Scammers post fake positions, or send emails that look like they’re from someone in your community, or part of an organization you know. Be aware!

Mystery shopper scams: Getting paid to shop sounds like a dream job — especially if you’re looking for a side gig. But while some mystery shopping jobs are legitimate, many are scams. Do your research.

Job placement service scams : While most staffing companies, temp agencies, headhunters, and other placement firms are legitimate, others lie about what they will do for you, promote outdated or fake job openings, and charge fees for so-called services. Legitimate placement firms never charge a fee!

Government and postal jobs scams: You respond to an ad that promises jobs with the federal government or postal service. But then you have to pay a fee to get the job, or pay for study materials so you’ll get a high score on the entry exam. These are scams.

Next week : How to avoid a job scam.