‘Tis the season to make an extra buck. Not just for retailers and holiday workers, but for scam artists as well. And if you’re among the many who are currently looking for part-time holiday work, it pays to be aware of them. Online classifieds are rife with fraudulent job listings offering fabulous career opportunities in exchange for money or personal information.
Anyone who posts resumes or professional profiles online is also vulnerable. While your information is visible to legitimate potential employers, it’s also available to scammers. With it, they can reach out under an assumed identity, saying they saw your resume and would love to offer you a job. From there, they might request personal information or even demand money as an initial business investment or for administrative fees
But, of course, not all inquiries you receive from potential employers are suspicious. The key is to be able to tell the good guys from the bad. In general, there are two important things to remember. One, no legitimate employer will ever demand money or personal information from an applicant. And two, if the offer sounds too good to be true, it almost always is.
Listen to what your gut is telling you. If you have a bad feeling about something, back away quickly. Here are some other tips to protect yourself from holiday job scams.
Know Where You’re Applying
Before applying for a job listed on social networking sites or in online ads, be sure to verify that the company actually exists. The same goes for companies who’ve contacted you directly. A simple Google search can provide lots of information including the company’s website, LinkedIn page and latest news.
If very little about the company shows up, this is a definite red flag, especially if they seem to lack any established physical location with a real street address. A cell phone number and website address are not enough contact information.
Do Your Own Background Check
A real business should be able to give you professional references. But references alone do not guarantee a company’s validity. Be sure to check them yourself and do your own background check by visiting the Better Business Bureau for reviews or additional information on the company.
Ask for full details or a complete description of the job in writing. If they refuse to answer all your questions or give details, don’t do business with them.
Protect Your Money
As mentioned before, no authentic job offer will require you to pay out-of-pocket expenses before an interview. This includes costs associated with background checks, credit reports, administrative fees, materials or training.
Also, avoid the common ploy in which scam artists ask you to wire payments (especially to destinations in other countries) for errands on their behalf in exchange for fraudulent checks. If you wire a payment to somebody, it’s probably gone forever.
Protect Your Personal Information
Never provide your social security number, birth date, driver’s license number or bank account information for direct deposit setup until you’ve verified a position’s legitimacy.
Be Wary of Poorly Written Descriptions
Job seekers should be cautious of job descriptions that are poorly written or have spelling or grammatical errors. This includes imagery and logos that look amateurish or slapped together.
Avoid High Pressure Offers
Finally, be wary of unsolicited offers of work that require you to act quickly, particularly if they’re asking you to make a business investment. High pressure is a common sign that something’s wrong.
