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Searching for a job at any time is stressful, and feeling a financial pinch during the holidays can make the situation seem dire. This creates the perfect setting for online scammers to prey upon new victims.
The FBI released a report stating that people lost $220 million due to job scams in early 2024. The agency also warned about fake job postings that ask people to perform online tasks for money. Scammers take advantage of people looking for work by creating fake job postings to phish for personal information. All isn't lost, though: Here are our tips for safe job searching and some red flags to spot and avoid.
How to Avoid Job Search Scams
Searching for a new job makes you inherently vulnerable to identity theft scammers. It starts with the application. You have to give up all kinds of information about yourself on your resume and cover letter or via a web form, and that's all done without any human contact. Unless explicitly stated in the company's privacy policy or terms of service, you don't know where your job application information is going, who is viewing it, or how that information will be stored or used.
On top of that, desperation can cause people to do drastic things with disastrous consequences, such as giving money to a stranger for more information about a new job or entering their social security number and financial account information on unsecured web forms. To help you avoid scammers while looking for a new career, here are seven tips to secure your job search.
1. Research the Employer Online Before Applying
Does the company actually exist? Do they have an office location or even a phone number you can call to verify that it does? Does the recruiter or hiring manager work for that company? Is the company publicly hiring for this job? Verify this information on the company's website, and check to make sure the company is present on other social platforms. Does the job posting link to a secure web address that starts with https://? Hover your mouse over the link to reveal the true URL.
2. Verify Postings Found on Networking and Job Sites
If you found the job posting on a third-party job board such as Indeed, Flexjobs, or LinkedIn, check whether that job is listed on the company’s website. Not every employer hosts a page with job postings, but many do. If you don't see a position listed there that you saw elsewhere, take it as a red flag and continue looking for others.
3. Don't Provide Bank Account Information Until You're Hired
Scammers may ask for money or bank account information during the interview. A legitimate employer will never ask for your banking details until you've signed a contract and are setting up direct deposit. Even then, they'll ask to verify only the bank name, account number, and routing number or SWIFT code—but never your online banking username and password.
4. Confirm the Employer's Identity
Do not accept a job solely through email, over the phone, or via a chat app. Insist on an in-person interview or video call. Make sure the person you're speaking to actually represents the company they're hiring for, whether through an official company email address or a listing on the company's staff web page.
5. Never Send Money to Anyone You Meet Online, Especially Via Wire Transfer
Again, scammers may try to get you to pay for supposed training fees or background checks. A legitimate company or employer will not make these kinds of requests. Additionally, if someone asks you to send money via wire transfer, consider that a major red flag. Wire transfers are nearly instant and notoriously difficult to reverse. This means the scammer can vanish with your money before you've even realized you've been scammed.
6. Don't Share Personal Data With Job Search Apps or Networking Sites
Do not enter your Social Security number or other personal identification information into online web forms on third-party job search sites. Save that for the HR department or hiring manager of the prospective company.
7. If You Must Enter Your Social Security Number, Make Sure the Site Is Secure
Check the web address for https://. Only enter your information after you’ve been in contact with a human in person or via video call.
Job Posting Scam Clues
Does a job posting seem fishy to you? Go with your gut and avoid it.
Here's how the grift works: Criminals create spoofed websites, often with stolen graphics of company logos to make the site look legitimate, to harvest job seeker information. The scammers post links to these phishing sites on well-known job boards. Job seekers fill out forms with key information such as addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and employment history. Sometimes, the scammers even contact the victims and ask them to pay up-front for background checks, job training, or "supplies" like a work laptop or smartphone for which they promise you'll be reimbursed. Some may even send you a fake check for the purchase in exchange for your banking information. You try to deposit the check, and it bounces. Meanwhile, the scammers have your account information. Once the crooks get the money, they disappear.
In addition to the posting for online gig jobs mentioned above, here are other common job search scam tactics to watch out for:
- Suspicious interview tactics
In-person interviews aren't always an option, so video calls are the next best bet. If the employer doesn't use a company email address or verifiable phone number to schedule and conduct a video call, that can be a red flag. - Requests for money
If the potential employer asks you to pay during any part of the hiring process, it's probably a scam. - Requests for credit card information
Employers don't need your credit card number to see if you'll be an excellent employee. Avoid anyone who requests this info. - Recruiters or hiring managers who have blank or empty profiles on job networking sites or whose profile information does not fit their roles
For example, the recruiter for a software firm based in Chicago should not have a Malibu yoga instructor's profile photo, description, and qualifications.
Trust Your Intuition
Remember, if you have doubts about the legitimacy of a job posting, take the time to research the company, recruiter, or hiring manager online. A few minutes of searching for more information about a dream job opportunity can save you from a nightmare of future credit woes.
If your job search leads to becoming a scam victim before you become an employee, don't panic! First, report the scammer. Law enforcement may not be able to offer immediate relief, but experts tell us that reporting scams helps long-term online crime prevention. If you're a victim of identity theft, PCMag has a guide for what to do after you've been hacked. When you're ready to beef up your data privacy and protection, check out our advice to avoid excessive data collection.