How to Spot and Avoid Employment Scams - Money Tip Tuesday

The scammers are at it again! This time, they're targeting individuals on the job hunt. If you or someone you know is currently looking for employment, it's essential to understand how scammers use job listings to steal your identity or money.  

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Transcript:

Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast.   

Scams and security threats abound, and it's not surprising that scammers are constantly devising new ways to trick you into handing over your sensitive information or money.   

Some noticeable and sneaky scams that have risen in popularity since 2020 employment scams. 

If you've been searching for a job over the last few months or even years, you must be on guard against scammers trying to collect your information through an employment scam. These types of scams target individuals looking for jobs and, in many cases, target individuals looking for work-from-home jobs.  

You must keep an eye out for some signs someone might be scamming you with a fake job offer.   

One sign is that scammers will only communicate with you through a messaging app like Telegram, WhatsApp, or email rather than a phone number or, in some cases, in person. Legitimate recruiters would connect with the individual through the business phone number or email. If a recruiter communicates with you only through a messaging app or an email from Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo rather than a business email address, that's a huge red flag.   

Another sign that it's a scam is that they might ask you for your banking information and personal details right up front. Legitimate companies ask for banking information and other sensitive information after you've accepted the job offer and proceed with onboarding. They shouldn't ask for any of that information before you've accepted the job offer.  

A third flag is if the company lacks credibility across platforms. While researching, look beyond just a simple Google search to review the company. Check that company information on other sites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and even the Better Business Bureau's website. Scammers can easily set up fake websites that will appear on a web search but beware if you can't find it on other platforms.   

Another scam tactic is if they require you to pay for your supplies or training. There are stories of people who reported that after they accepted the job, they received invoices for work supplies like laptops and other materials. In other cases, scammers ask applicants to provide payment in advance for specific training programs or certifications required for the job. If you're asked to cover the costs for equipment or training before you're even working, think twice about taking the job. Employers should be covering the costs of your work equipment and certainly for required job training programs. If you discuss training programs and certifications in an interview, ensure you get any agreements for that training in writing before accepting the job.   

A fifth red flag is if the interviewing process seems off. If the interview appears too short and fast-tracked, this is a red flag. Interviews should give you time to learn about the company and plenty of time to ask specific questions about the role you're applying for and your expected responsibilities. You should also be aware of interviews conducted only through text. Legitimate businesses will conduct interviews over the phone, through video calls, or in person.  

What can you do to avoid falling for these scams?  

Stay aware of scamming tactics. Remain diligent and question everything. If you see a job listing or a recruiter, send an urgent hiring message; don't respond too quickly. Messages that require you to act impulsively are deeply suspicious and likely attempts to get you to act immediately without thinking.  

It would help to consider getting identity theft protection as a safeguard. We hope you'll never have to deal with an identity theft incident. However, even the most vigilant user can still become a victim of identity theft. That's why adding another level of protection over your identity with an identity theft protection plan is important. If you're looking for affordable identity theft protection, check out Triangle's Better Checking account with IDProtect. Not only do you get identity and credit monitoring 24/7, but you'll also get theft reimbursement and a case manager if you ever become a victim.

If there are any other tips or topics, you’d like us to cover, let us know at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org.  Like and follow our Making Money Personal FB and IG page and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union on social media to share your thoughts.  

Thanks for listening to today’s Money Tip Tuesday and check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.  

Have a great day!