In our online focused world, it can sometimes be hard to tell genuine job postings from the scams. However, whilst it is difficult to tell the difference, there are always warning signs that people should lookout for. So keep your mind sharp, eyes peeled and don’t get caught out.
Earn money in a hurry, no skills/experience necessary
Even if you are desperately seeking a job and money, this sentence should set off alarm bells. No genuine, respectable company would want to employ someone with no skills or experience and pay them.
Asking for money
A legitimate employer should not ask you for money, so if they do you can usually be 100% certain that this job posting is a scam and that it is trying to get you to deposit your money into an offshore account under the pretext that you’ll receive a huge sum of money back.
Hard to track down/ based abroad
If you cannot find an official company website, a local phone number or a professional email address then you need to be very wary. Many job scams are set up in foreign countries, so if there is a phone number check the country dialling code (UK dialling code is +44). No official business will have a free email address, so if you are asked to contact someone at gmail/hotmail/yahoo/aol, then it’s more than likely a scam.
Google research
Before getting sucked into applying for any suspicious jobs, make sure you do some research. All you need to do is type the company’s name and the word “scam” into Google and it will bring up a history and you’ll see if others have been scammed.
Money transfers
If a company employs you to receive and transfer money, giving you a commission for each transfer, then this is what is known as being a “money mule”. Often you won’t even be aware of the fact that the money you’re transferring is dodgy and that you’re a victim of a scam, so keep this in mind if you see job ads looking for “payment processing agents,” “money transfer agents,” or any job titles that are similar. Not only will you be falling prey to a scam but you’ll also be taking part in something that is illegal.
It’s really important that you don’t fall for these job scams, as you could find that you become a victim of identity theft, lose your life savings, or even face getting into trouble with the law. Even if you are desperate, keep in mind that more often than not, if something appears too good to be true, it probably is. Whilst this is a negative attitude to take, it is better to be safe rather than sorry.
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