Scammers Stealing Information Through Job Ads<\/h3>\n
Next up, we have one of the more obvious reasons somebody would post a fake ad. Scammers use fake job ads to try and collect sensitive information on their applicants. Just think. There\u2019s so much that employers can ask for before you start a job, including:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Name, address, place of birth, work history and other personal details<\/li>\n
- Scans of ID documents, or even the real thing (like a passport or driving license)<\/li>\n
- Bank details (so that they know where to send your \u2018salary\u2019)<\/li>\n
- Social security number<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
With all of these details to hand, it would be trivial for a scammer to steal your identity. Unfortunately, these scams are becoming more common. According to The Motley Fool<\/a><\/strong>, nobody\u2019s even sure how much social security fraud costs the economy\u2014it\u2019s that much. Fortunately, being able to spot job scams with our tips below makes this much less likely to happen.<\/p>\n
Advertising a Different Job<\/h3>\n
Last but not least, some job adverts are simply redirects. When you find them on Indeed or Craigslist, they advertise something that sounds great: say, teaching, or management. But when you click the link in the ad, it takes you something completely different. This could be anything from delivering takeout to working for Uber\u2014something you might not have wanted to apply for.<\/p>\n
This crude and simple tactic won\u2019t work 99% of the time, but it may draw some people in. That\u2019s why scammers use it to advertise jobs that aren\u2019t necessarily appealing.<\/p>\n
So, now that you understand why people post fake job ads let\u2019s find out how to spot them.<\/p>\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/fake-job-postings-on-indeed.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWarning Signs That a Job is Fake<\/h3>\n
There are a number of ways to spot that a job ad is fake. It\u2019s not always going to be obvious. Scammers aren\u2019t upfront about what they want, unlike typical spam emails for example. They work harder to reel you in at first, and then ask for what they really want when they\u2019ve built up your false sense of security.<\/p>\n
But by following the signs below, you should be able to weed out some of the fake job adverts. None of these signs is definitive; sometimes a job isn\u2019t too good to be true. Sometimes it\u2019s an excellent opportunity. But if it ticks more than one of these boxes, it\u2019s probably a fake.<\/p>\n
The Job is Too Good to Be True<\/h3>\n
Do a quick job search and you\u2019ll find a dozen of these within an hour. Jobs that seem too good to be true are a dime a dozen. That\u2019s because they\u2019re the easiest way to reel in unsuspecting applicants. Let\u2019s say that you want to work a nice office job in a big city.<\/p>\n
It varies depending on where you live, but let\u2019s say that almost all the real openings require:<\/p>\n
- \n
- 2 years\u2019 experience<\/li>\n
- A bachelor\u2019s degree in XYZ<\/li>\n
- A willingness to work set hours plus overtime (i.e. 9 to 5, plus staying late)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"fake](\"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/fake-job-offer-emails.png\")
<\/p>\nLet\u2019s go on to say that you\u2019ve been searching for an opening for the last three months to no avail. But during a normal online search, along comes something that looks like a way in.<\/p>\n
This job offers everything you want\u2014plus a great salary\u2014and even promises:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Flexible hours<\/li>\n
- No need for a degree, just a high school diploma<\/li>\n
- No need for previous experience<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
It\u2019s almost like a dream come true. Unfortunately, that\u2019s probably all it is: a dream. Bear in mind that According to the Georgetown Public Policy Institute<\/a><\/strong>, by 2020 65% of jobs will need education beyond high school. When jobs offer you the world on a platter like the one above, it\u2019s far more likely to be a ploy to reel you in than a genuine job opportunity.<\/p>\n
Work from Home Online Jobs Frauds<\/h3>\n
Next up are work from home online job frauds. These can be positions that would normally be on-site but are offered on an at-home basis. They also typically come with the same promises of a great salary and flexible hours as the example above. They\u2019re a classic \u2018get rich quick\u2019 scheme.<\/p>\n
Typical work-at-home frauds offer to pay people huge salaries for minimal effort. They send their fee in a self-addressed and stamped envelope to the address provided.\u00a0 Applicants pay a small fee for a \u2018starter pack\u2019, which is often little more than leaflets and pamphlets for the scheme. These frauds also encompass basic pyramid schemes and bogus \u2018crafting\u2019 jobs.\u00a0 These scams were more common before the internet, but can still be found, even on well-known job boards.<\/p>\n
Fake Job Offer Emails<\/h3>\n
Here\u2019s an example that comes straight out of nowhere. Telling between real and fake job ads on boards like Indeed can be difficult. But it\u2019s a practical guarantee that if you get a job offer through email\u2014from somebody you\u2019ve never contacted before\u2014that it\u2019s going to be fake.<\/p>\n
These offers are typically from \u2018recruiters\u2019 who claim that they found your resume somewhere online. Like always, they\u2019re too good to be true. They\u2019re often for positions that aren\u2019t relevant to you at all. This is what often gives the game away.<\/p>\n
The great thing about email for scammers is that they don\u2019t have to reveal themselves. That\u2019s why the Nigerian Prince scam became so successful. By talking over the phone, you might realize that the recruiter isn\u2019t even talking to you from the U.S. The same goes, of course, for meeting in person. But through email, they can claim to be anybody they want to be.<\/p>\n
Text Message for Job Interview<\/h3>\n
The exact same applies to offers of job interviews over text. One day, you\u2019re going about your business, when your phone beeps or buzzes. It\u2019s a recruiter trying to get in touch with you and offer you an amazing work-from-home job. Unfortunately, this is going to be yet another scam. Unsolicited contact is almost always a scam unless you work high up the ladder and you\u2019re being \u2018head hunted\u2019.<\/p>\n
How to Tell if a Job Ad is Fake or Real<\/h3>\n
So, it\u2019s time for the all-important question. How can you tell if a job ad is real or fake? And better yet, is it possible to be able to tell instantly? It is\u2014and the way to do it is with just a little research. Here\u2019s how to spot any and all fakes, quickly and easily.<\/p>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/fake-job-postings-on-craigslist.jpg\")
<\/p>\n1) The Company Doesn\u2019t Exist<\/h4>\n
Here\u2019s something basic that you might not have thought of doing. If the job advert has the employer\u2019s name listed, do a quick search for it online. Start by searching for the business\u2019 name. If it you can\u2019t find anything, that might be because their website isn\u2019t well-built and Google doesn\u2019t like it. However, it\u2019s a bad sign.<\/p>\n
You can also look for the company on well-known job boards and job sites. Glassdoor<\/strong><\/a> is a great example. If you\u2019ve never heard of it, it\u2019s a site that allows employees to post anonymous \u2018reviews\u2019 of their place of work. It\u2019s a great tool to tell if a workplace is everything it claims to be. It\u2019s also a good tool to use when trying to pinpoint fake job ads. If the company isn\u2019t listed there, that\u2019s another bad sign.<\/p>\n
Next, try and track down other details in the job ad, like the telephone number or email. Search for the term with quotes around it, as in \u201cjohnsmith@gmail.com\u201d. This tells the search engine to search for that term precisely. Do the same with the phone number, if one\u2019s listed. If nothing at all comes up, then there\u2019s a chance that the company could be a fake one.<\/p>\n
2) The Company Isn\u2019t Hiring<\/h4>\n
If the company does exist, there are still a good few options open to you. First off, search for other job ads online from the same business. If the ad you found is the only one you can find, then there\u2019s a chance that they aren\u2019t really hiring. This tip only works for small businesses, though, because big companies need to hire people all the time.<\/p>\n
3) The Address is Incorrect<\/h4>\n
If there\u2019s an address listed with the ad or interview offer, check for it online. Does it match the business\u2019 real address? Scammers pretending to be from a particular company have to meet you somewhere that isn\u2019t the business\u2019 real address, for obvious reasons. If the location is somewhere odd, that\u2019s a sign that the ad is fake.<\/p>\n
4) Job Ad with No Details<\/h4>\n
Let\u2019s say you\u2019re searching online for a teaching post. You come across an ad that offers a decent salary and benefits. The job description lists so many benefits that you don\u2019t know where to start. Aside from that, though, there are no real details on the job\u2014you have no idea who you\u2019ll be teaching, or who you\u2019ll be working for. There isn\u2019t a phone number or address, just an email and the option to submit your resume.<\/p>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/do-recruitment-agencies-post-fake-jobs.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhen a job ad is deliberately vague, it\u2019s for one of two reasons. First, it could be a scam. Fraudsters try and pack their ad with as many amazing benefits as possible rather than real \u2018details\u2019. Second, though, the job on offer might not be a very attractive opening. Recruitment agents have a habit of burying the worst details about a job, and only telling you them when you\u2019re there for an interview. Either way, it\u2019s probably an ad you should avoid.<\/p>\n
5) The Ad is Poor Quality<\/h4>\n
When you open a scam email, the first thing you normally notice is the poor quality English. This is due to the fact that most scammers live and \u2018work\u2019 abroad. There are often tell-tale grammatical mistakes, like no capitalization or the wrong words used at the wrong points in a sentence. If a job ad reads like it was written by a scammer, then it probably was <\/em>written by a scammer.<\/p>\n
6) You Receive an Odd Reply<\/h4>\n
Let\u2019s say you applied for a job that seems perfectly normal. The ad wasn\u2019t too good to be true, your searches checked out, and it seemed well-written. However, when they replied, you got a feeling that something wasn\u2019t quite right.<\/p>\n
There are a few ways that this can happen:<\/p>\n
- \n
- The business replied instantly to your application, asking you to go to a site and fill in an online form.<\/li>\n
- The tone and grammar of the email were completely different from that of the job ad. So, the job advert was in perfect English, but the email you received wasn\u2019t.<\/li>\n
- The reply doesn\u2019t take into account anything from your resume or email.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This is often a case of the scammer showing their true colors, especially if you get an instant reply. That\u2019s a sign that they\u2019re not interested in you: they\u2019re interested in your personal details.<\/p>\n
7) You Were Accepted Immediately<\/h4>\n
An even bigger sign is if your application is immediately accepted. Within the day, or even within the hour of you sending your application, you\u2019re told that you were accepted for an interview. Congratulations are normally in order\u2014but in this case, it might be a scam.<\/p>\n
There are a few signs to watch out for after being invited for an interview which can suggest it might be a fraudulent ad:<\/p>\n
- \n
- The speed with which you were asked to come in for an interview is too fast. It might not even have been long enough for them to read and consider your resume.<\/li>\n
- The invitation makes no mention of anything you put in your resume or cover letter.<\/li>\n
- The invitation is for an interview at an odd location.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In terms of recruitment, it\u2019s unusual for an interview to take place anywhere but at the company\u2019s offices. If your interview is held elsewhere, this might be because they\u2019re not a real employee. Speaking of odd locations for interviews\u2026<\/p>\n
8) The Interview Isn\u2019t in Person<\/h4>\n
Let\u2019s say that after you applied for a position to work at an insurance company\u2019s offices. For well-paid or highly sought-after jobs, it\u2019s common these days to go through phone interviews. These are exactly what they sound like: basic interviews over the phone rather than in person. There\u2019s nothing wrong with that. If you\u2019re successful, you\u2019ll be offered an in-person interview: one step closer to the job.<\/p>\n
However, a sure sign of a scammer is that they\u2019re happy simply to conduct all interviews over the phone or online. A particularly common method is to \u2018interview\u2019 through a chat service like Facebook Messenger. Then, in the end, they\u2019re happy to offer you the position without even meeting you.<\/p>\n
9) You\u2019re Asked for Money<\/h4>\n
This is one of the surest signs of a scam. Let\u2019s say you applied for a job, and you were accepted. However, there\u2019s a caveat. The recruiter asks you for money before you can take the job. Now, this isn\u2019t entirely unprecedented. For example, sometimes an applicant might have to pay for a background check or drug test.<\/p>\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/phlebotomyexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/why-do-companies-post-fake-jobs.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAccording to BackgroundChecks.com<\/a><\/strong>, the law varies by state. But paying for your own check isn\u2019t unusual. However, scammers often ask for payments for more than just background checks.<\/p>\n
They might ask for the following:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Money to cover on the job training once you\u2019ve started<\/li>\n
- A fee to \u2018process your application\u2019<\/li>\n
- A fee for unspecified costs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
In general, be very wary of any employer who asks for payment for something upfront.<\/p>\n
10) Asked for Personal Details Before You\u2019re Hired<\/h4>\n
Last but not least, you should also look out for any businesses that ask for personal details before <\/em>you\u2019re hired. This might not be something you appreciate if you\u2019ve not applied for many jobs in your lifetime. However, businesses don\u2019t ask for these details until you\u2019ve interviewed in person and been accepted for the job.<\/p>\n
This includes both bank details and your social security number. All employers will need these details eventually or they won\u2019t be able to pay you. However, they don\u2019t need them at any point before you\u2019re hired.<\/p>\n
Can I Complain About Fake Job Ads?<\/h3>\n
Most online job boards allow you to report ads that you believe to be fake. However, this is of limited effect, and only infrequently results in the removal of the ad. If you believe you\u2019ve replied to fake ads by accident, there\u2019s little you can do. Your best bet is to simply move on, and be more careful in future. Spend your time applying for real jobs instead\u2014it\u2019s a far better use of your time.<\/p>\n
How to Identify Fake Job Ads<\/h3>\n
In closing, it\u2019s easy to identify fake jobs by using the checklist below. This list takes each of the points above into account. Keep them in mind whenever you\u2019re searching for positions.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Immediately weed out any ad that asks for money or personal details upfront.<\/li>\n
- Next, research the ad before you start to apply. Search online for the business, the phone number, the email address and the physical address listed in the ad. This will stop most scams in their tracks.<\/li>\n
- Finally, use your gut instinct to find any remaining scams. Avoid any jobs that seem to offer too much, or which are written poorly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
And that\u2019s all there is to it. If you\u2019re still not sure how to know if a job is legit, you can always take one final step: call the company and ask to speak with them about their opening. You may need a job fast<\/strong><\/a>, but you still need to exercise great care due to the number of scammers.<\/p>\n
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