Around Acadiana
BBB warns against fake employment opportunities
Posted: Aug 6, 2012 4:25 PM by Press Release
BBB warns scammers are posting fake employment opportunities on the web.
Right now many job seekers are searching for any opportunity but we advise consumers: don't take the tricky bait. Scammers are posting fake employment opportunities on Craigslist and other employment sites.
A local job seeker applied to an offer and was told she was selected for the job. The e-mail claimed she would receive a check and all she had to do was take her expenses out of the check (once it was deposited) to open the office in Lafayette - now there is a fake check scam! After careful review of the information forwarded to us from the consumer, the email was full of tips that the company was NOT WHAT IT PURPORTED TO BE ; like misspelled words and phrases; that the offer was not what it seemed and could have possibly come from a foreign country. Another problem is that without knowing, the job applicant sent personal information including address and cell phone number to a stranger!
She stopped right there and didn't fall for it. The BBB is warning others to beware as well.
While it can be exciting to be contacted for a job interview, job seekers should take a step back and look closely at all the details before responding.
It's common for the unemployed to use social networking sites, newspapers, and online postings to look for jobs, including Craigslist, but it's important to know how to spot red flags. (Craigslist post disclaimers for anyone searching for a job warning them of these types of scams.)
The BBB offers the following tips when finding a job through online searches:
Exercise Caution. When using social networking sites like Facebook and online employment sites such as Craigslist, be sure to check the actual Web site of the company posting the position to verify it actually exists. If you don't see it on their site, chances are it's a scam.
Guard Your Resume. Some job seekers have uploaded their resume online but remember to make sure you only upload it for a legitimate purpose and company. Resumes often contain personal information, ripe for identity theft thieves.
Start with Trust. Many scams use names that are similar to reputable companies to trick job seekers. BBB recommends that job seekers check out the company first at bbb.org and to apply through the actual company site whenever possible.
Never Pay Upfront Fees. No legitimate job offer will require out of pocket expenses from a potential employee for background checks, credit reports or administrative fees before an interview.
Protect Personal Information. Job seekers should never provide their social security number or birth date until they have verified the position is legitimate. Additionally, job seekers should never provide bank account information for direct deposit setup until they have officially been hired.
Be Careful of the "Perfect Offer." Job seekers should be cautious of any posting advertising extremely high pay for short hours or minimal required experience. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Avoid Work-at-Home Offers. Most jobs that imply you can work from home or rake in cash are a ploy to trap you into giving away your credit card information, cashing fake checks, or paying for training that should be free. Job seekers should understand employees working from home generally go through the traditional in-person interviews and hiring process and often have prior experience in what they are doing, work for a salary, or have spent time and money developing the market for their work.
Tips to Avoid Falling for Fake Job Scams:
1. Job postings with grammatical errors, misspellings and lots of exclamation marks are likely scams. Ads promoting jobs with generic titles, such as admin assistant or customer service rep, and containing the phrases "Teleworking OK," "Immediate Start" and "No Experience Needed" are popular in scam ads.
2. If a job looks suspicious, search for it in Google. If the result comes up in many other cities with the exact same job post, it is likely a scam.
3. Be very cautious of any job that asks you to share personal information or hand over money. Scammers will often use the guise of running a credit check, setting up direct deposit or paying for training.
Check out the business' website to make sure the opening is posted there. If you are still skeptical, call the business.
The BBB of Acadiana works for a trustworthy marketplace by maintaining standards for truthful advertising, investigating and exposing fraud against consumers and businesses. Please contact the BBB at www.acadiana.bbb.org or (337) 981-3497 24 hours a day for information on businesses throughout North America.
The BBB of Acadiana services the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martin, St. Landry and Vermilion.
KATC.com is Social!
KATC Videos
Comments