Like phishing schemes, employment scams can be convincing, using real company names as an attempt to deceive the recipient into giving them their personal information and money.
To prioritize the safety and integrity of our community, we want to provide you with some critical insight about how to spot employment scams and how to report them.
Red Flags of an Employment Scam
- Theyll ask you to deposit a check or pay a fee. The scammer will typically ask you to deposit a check or claim to accidentally overpay you. These checks will always be fraudulent. No legitimate company will overpay you and then ask you to send back the difference. Also, be wary of companies who ask you to pay a fee to work for them.
- They offer you a job on the spot. A legitimate company will want to get to know their potential hire and have an onboarding process. If you feel pressured to start right away or give them your personal information, it could be a scam.
- They dont include the name of the company.
- The email address doesnt match the company name. Always check who the email is from! A real hiring manager isnt likely to contact you from a random email address.
- They offer to pay a large amount for little to no work.
- Certain positions are more likely to be scams than others. A position that does not require special skill or licensing appeals to a wide range of people, which scammers are aware of. Examples of these titles are assistants or customer service representatives.
Now that you are aware of the red flags, here is a quick look at how these kinds of scams tend to play out.
You get an email from a person or company you dont know saying that they are looking for someone to fill a position. Often, this position is entry-level and does not require a special skill set, such as an assistant or customer service representative. You apply and get a quick response.
After you are hired, the company may try to charge you upfront for training, and they will ask you to provide your banking information to run a credit check or set up a direct deposit. Or, you may be accidentally overpaid with a fake check and asked to deposit the check and wire back the difference. They may also tell you that you need to buy expensive equipment and supplies to work at home.
So, then what happens? Their financial information could become compromised if the victim releases their information or deposits a check. More importantly, depositing a check (which will be fraudulent) can be a gateway for the scammer to steal the victim's money.
How do I know if a job opportunity is legit?
The short answer: Research!
The long answer:
Search for the job posting using the company name provided in the email, especially if it is a well-known company. If you cannot find the job posting on their website, or if you find the exact same job post several times in different cities, its likely a scam. Dont just Google it, either! Look for their information on LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. These days, most companies will have some kind of web presence. So its safe to assume that if you cant find anything about the company, its probably a scam.
Regardless of whether its a scam or not, its best to always research your potential employer before applying.
Some other things to keep in mind:
- Just because you see a job on Indeed or another job posting site doesnt mean its legit. Be cautious online as well as in your inbox.
- Government jobs will always post their positions publicly and free of charge.
- St. Edwards University will post student job opportunities on Handshake. So, if someone is contacting you about a position at St. Edwards, please verify the posting is on Handshake to make sure it is legitimate.
What should I do if I receive a scam email or am the victim of an employment scam?
Ultimately, if it sounds too good to be true, thats because it probably is. Trust your gut and if something feels suspicious, ask your friends, family and people you trust for their input.
Stay safe, stay diligent and if you have any questions, email us at
support@stedwards.edu.