companies. One of our readers reported that she received a job offer from “Proctor and Gambel,” but the real company is named “Procter & Gamble.” Another reader says he was offered a job by someone who claimed to represent a real company, but when he did his research, he found out it was a scam:
ALWAYS contact the REAL company and ask if this employee exists. That is how I found out this employee was a fraud.
Sophisticated scammers sometimes set up nice-looking websites—but looks can be deceiving.
Go to Who.Is and type the company’s web address into the “domain names or IP addresses” box and click the search button. The results will tell you the date when the website was created. If the website is less than a year old, be on your guard.
When searching for information about the company online, search for both the company’s name and the email address. Also, copy/paste paragraphs from the email into the search box. Scammers may change the company name but re-use the other parts of the email, and it’s possible you’ll find an identical email posted online.
- You’re Asked to Provide Confidential Information Some scammers ask for your bank account information to set up direct deposit or transfer money to your account, or ask you to open a new bank account and provide the information to them:
Other scammers will tell you to go to a website and fill out a credit report form or provide confidential information so they can “put you on the company insurance.” Identity theft scams try to get you to provide your Social Security number and birth date and other personal information.
Before entering personal information online, check to make sure the website is secure by looking at the web address bar. Secure websites have URLs that begin with “HTTPS://”, not “HTTP://”.
- Sending Money or Using a Personal Bank Account Some readers say they’ve received checks that look like real cashier’s checks. They are instructed to deposit the check, keep some of the money for themselves, and send the rest of the money to someone else via Western Union or Money Gram. Then, a few days or weeks later, they get a call from the bank saying the check is fake. They have lost the money they sent.
Here’s an example of a scam sent from a reader:
Once you receive the check, First of all, I want you to head right away to your bank and get the check cashed. Deduct your first-week pay which is $500, and Deduct an extra $100 for the Money Gram sending fee and proceed to the nearest Money Gram outlet around you to make payment to my wife’s travel agent.
Some scammers ask to use your personal bank account to transfer money from one account to another account. It is called money laundering, and it’s against the law. Other scams ask you to receive and forward packages from your home. These packages might contain stolen goods or illegal substances.
- They Want you to Pay for Something Legitimate companies don’t ask for money. If you’re told you need to purchase software or pay for services, beware. Here are three examples:
Buy This Software
A reader reports:
They were offering $15 per hour for training and $24.75 to start. I was so excited to work from home and actually be paid a decent wage.
The interview went well, and I was told I have the job. YAY! Then I was told that they were going to send me a brand-new HP laptop for work, but I needed to pay for the software for it. I thought not a problem; I’ve had to upgrade in the past for jobs.
Well, here is the red flag: ‘We need you to send $312 Western Union for software costs…’
Pay for a Credit Report
The scam:
The job will require you to work in a high financial environment, so it is our corporate policy that we perform financial verification checks on all employees to ensure applicant registration info. It’s corporate policy that we have applicants sent through our link, so we are compliant with the U.S employment standards act… Fill out the form and indicate that you want the free report.
Here’s what a reader had to say about this scam:
…These companies are using the internet to get job-seeking people to use their site. Then they tell them they need a credit check to apply for a job through their site. Then the company charges an unauthorized fee on your credit card, which you used to pay a $1 one-time fee for the credit check. Preying on those who can least afford it! Shame on you!
Pay to Have Your Resume Reviewed -
The scammer wrote:
You have a lot of strong, relevant experience and are an excellent candidate although it would be best to improve your resume before doing anything with it. I can refer you to a resume writing expert that can improve your resume to the standard we are looking for, and I believe he charges around $150 or so…
- Your Gut Says It’s a Scam Researching the company is your best defense, but some scammers are very clever. If you start to feel that things aren’t right, trust your intuition. Ask questions and pay close attention to the answers.
Slow the process down and don’t be pressured into making a commitment or giving out personal information. Do more research. If it turns out to be a scam, report it to the authorities. #scammed #scam #jobscams #advice
What Keeps People Applying? I will never understand why people will keep applying or leaving themselves vulnerable to being SCAMMED?
I have posted several times Signs to Be Aware of when searching for Employment in the Community, yet people are still applying to these Scam Jobs. First and Foremost, I get it, you would like to find a good paying jobs. High Pay, and Work Schedules that fit your lifestyle. Let’s face it, chances of it happening are slim but reachable. It starts with putting in the effort to obtain it. The old saying is If it Sounds To Good to be True, normally it’s a Scam! Let me share with you a story of what happened to a person I know and worked with at the hospital. Each morning we would walk into work together and chat. She told me she was quitting her job. She said she received a job offer paying $27.00 per hour, weekends off & holidays off with pay. Right away the flags went up in my head that it was a Scam. I started to explain to her how it’s sounds funny. She got mad at me, and said “I Thought you would be happy for me”? I tried to explain I am, but still worried it was a scam. I didn’t hear from her No More. She quit and walked out. A few weeks later, I ran into her at the Union Hall and asked How she was doing in her New Job? I could see the disappointment in her face. She told me she had been scammed for a lot of money. They wiped out her bank accounts, ruined her credit and had to move. She was applying for her old job again. Don’t allow this to happen to you. Research the jobs you are applying for and make sure they are real. What Company ask you to join What’s app? Lately, I am sure you noticed the post right here in the community. Several Post Per Day, offering Office Assistants, and others. They ask you to email them or message? They are signs of being scammed. #scammed #scam
I was #scammed through one of these #work from home people. Advice, if you are asked to purchase equipment or software and they want you to cash a check for it, it is a #scam. Do not risk fraud by taking pictures of checks sent through emails. I do not believe these jobs are vetted. And the wording of the proposals are a clue also. Americans use words differently than someone who is not a native. We don't use phrases like "very kindly". Yes I am a little salty. I just want to work and people wasting my time with BS about great pay....
Beware of #scam people. They are out there. I just got scammed this week. Delores Clarence on Telegram is fraud. Don't believe her. She will make you think she is on your side. She is not. #jobsearch #beware #advice #employment #scams #application #scammed #general
Good Morning,
Over the past few days I received a few emails stating I got the Job! The funny thing is I never applied for them! These are similar to one’s I received in the past with just different names and emails. On my Next Post I will share an example of what I am talking about. During this time of year when looking for a job people who do this know there is a higher volume of hiring going on with the holidays. This is a perfect time to prey on innocent people who are truly seeking employment. Do Not Fall Victim to this Scam! I know people who has clicked on the link or replied to the email only to wake up with there bank accounts wiped out. Also there are others out there that are telling you they are going to request a Google Code for you to retrieve and give them? By doing this you allow them to open a google phone number under your account. In turn they committed fraud and police track the scams back to you! Please take your time when reading your emails and only reply to the ones you know you applied or requested information to? This can be a costly mistake in the future if you fall victim to one of these scams! #scammed, #jobsearch, #employment, #application, #beware,
Hello recently I applied for a job and as desperate times are, I was up for anything. It was said that I would receive packages and check them for clients then send them out to their customers. I was told later by a family member that this was a scam. I researched it and indeed it was. I received a package but have not sent it out. I reported them to the United States Postal inspection and after doing so am now being harrassed on my social media. Posting inappropriate pictures and sending them. Adding me to nudity groups and adding new friends. I have been trying to get ahold of the police and have gone there with no success to further help. just BEWARE EVERYONE. The job posting was on craigslist (for APC delivery INC.). They do not have my social but they do have my address and now am fearful. Never could have imagined this would happen to me.