If you're in the market for a new job, you are likely looking for one with attractive pay and flexibility. Scammers know this and are ready to prey upon you with offers that are too good to be true, seeking to take your money while offering you little in return. Beware of job scams like the nine discussed in this article.
1. Impostors
An impostor job scam is when a scammer pretends to be someone else, likely from a legitimate company. They want to trick you into providing personal info, sending money, or completing tasks that will benefit them (possibly illegal activities). Beware of these types of requests, offers that are too good to be true, and red flags, such as unprofessional language.
2. Reshipping Scams
Reshipping scams are common. These involve the scammer convincing the victim to receive, repackage, and ship goods (which are most likely stolen). If the scammer is successful, they will disappear, and the victim may have to face the legal consequences that arise.
3. Fake Job Listings
Watch out for fake job listings on various sites (especially social media).
"Fake job listings come in various forms," explains Kate Palmquist at Indeed.* "Though job sites have measures in place to verify legitimate employers, scammers sometimes manage to get their listings posted. Other fake listings appear on social media profiles created expressly to deceive job seekers. The listings normally ask candidates to pay a fee to complete their application or to get started in the role."
4. Pyramid Schemes
Pyramid schemes (sometimes referred to as multi-level marketing or "MLM") have been around for years, and many have fallen prey. In one of these, the scammer would offer a job where the victim must recruit others into the scheme or invest in products to sell. Earnings then rely on the recruitment of others rather than actual sales. As a result, the scammer collects the vast majority of the money.
5. Recruiting Email
It is certainly possible to receive a legitimate recruitment email from a company interested in hiring you, but email is also a favorite tool for scammers. Be extra careful when reading and/or responding to such emails. Google the sender and avoid sending any sensitive information. If it's a message that you are genuinely interested in, do some research to make sure it's legitimate.
6. Work from Home Scams
There are many legitimate work-from-home jobs, but this is also a common promise made by scammers.
"Many people would like to make money working from home," the Federal Trade Commission notes.** "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. The job could be anything from reshipping products to selling things to people you know. Sometimes the scammers try to get you interested by saying that you can be your own boss, start your own business, or set your own schedule."
7. Envelope Stuffing
With an envelope stuffing job scam, the scammer promises to pay an impressive amount of money in order for you to fill envelopes with materials and mail them out. They ask for an amount of money up front in order to pay for supplies, but as you can probably guess, they just keep the money, and that easy work-from-home job basically evaporates.
8. Mystery Shopper
There are legitimate mystery shopper jobs in which companies hire people to evaluate their services, products, or stores. Most of these jobs, however, are probable scams. They send a fake check to the victim, who is instructed to deposit it into their bank account, and then send a portion back to the scammer via wire transfer or gift cards.
9. Reselling Scams
There are scams that involve the victim reselling merchandise in a work-from-home setting. They promise income through buying and reselling products. Once again, upfront fees are requested, and they often involve recruitment, similar to pyramid schemes. If a stranger reaches out to you with this type of "job" offer, steer clear. If they are extra convincing, do some research on the company, and you'll likely conclude that it is a scam.
With online job boards, social media and all the other digital tools at our disposal, it's never been easier to connect with potential employers. Be careful about the offers you accept, because these tools have also made it easier for scammers to prey upon unsuspecting job seekers.
* https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/job-scams