With recent graduations and a dip in the economy, employment scams are on the rise. This makes it a crucial time to use caution when a job opportunity that “sounds too good to be true” is being offered to you.
A local resident recently reached out to the Better Business Bureau to check out a job opportunity that popped up on social media. While she did her research on the company that was allegedly offering the job, it turns out the ad was placed by an impostor. Unfortunately, the resident had provided the bogus employer with her bank account information before she checked out the offer with Better Business Bureau.
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There were several red flags involved in the job opportunity offer. The conversation about the job responsibilities and her skills was all captured through chat. She never met her interviewer, yet she was offered the job on the spot.
She was asked for personal information and banking information to supposedly finalize the employment offer, but instead this was a scam designed to gather information that could be used to steal her identity and her money.
Unfortunately, this is not a unique experience. Employment scams have been around for a long time – the scenarios just change slightly. In fact, the bureau’s Scam Tracker site is receiving multiple reports of a new employment scam twist that involves downloading a messaging app. The app is being used in employment schemes that start with emails or text messages, as well as job offers that are popping up on social media.
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Here’s how it works: Once you show interest in a job that is being promoted, a “recruiter” reaches out to discuss the job details. They ask you to download a messaging app for the interview, such as “Telegram.”
The “recruiter” will then begin sending you messages about the job and ask you to complete a few interview questions. After giving you enthusiastic feedback, they will offer you a position with their company. That is likely followed by an official-looking contract to fill out and sign.
After you sign, the scammer will ask for your name, address, date of birth and banking information, claiming they need to add you to direct deposit payroll and other company systems.
As mentioned in the case involving our local resident, if you provide this sensitive information to someone promoting a bogus job opportunity, you could easily become a victim of identity theft and money theft.
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Some versions of this scam don’t end there. Some consumers report that once they were “hired,” they were referred to another alleged company representative, who was responsible for helping them set up their office in their home. A check was sent to allegedly purchase work-related supplies, such as laptops.
But after the check was deposited, consumers reported they were told the manager had overpaid them, and overpaid funds needed to be returned to them. This is the sign of a fake check scam, which is also known as an overpayment scam. An invalid check is sent and a false situation is created to get you to send back at least a portion of the funds.
While your bank will likely accept the check initially and provide you with the funds, after two to three weeks, the bank will learn that it was not valid. At this point, your bank will expect all of the funds back, even if you’ve sent some of the money to a scammer. Unless law enforcement can track them down, you’ll lose that money.
One victim reporting their experience through the bureau’s Scam Tracker shared that she almost lost $3,000 to an overpayment check scam that was tied to an employment opportunity. Fortunately, the check was not approved by her bank, which allowed her to learn very quickly that she was involved in a scam.
The Better Business Bureau suggests ways to avoid employment scams:
– Research job offers first. Visit a company’s website and look up their contact information. Verify that the company exists and the job posting is real before interacting with a stranger. Do an internet search with the company’s name and the word “scam” to see if anyone has reported a fake job offer. Look on BBB.org to see any unresolved complaints or negative reviews.
– Beware of jobs that involve receiving and returning money. Legitimate companies don’t generally send money to new employees before work is done. They certainly don’t ask you to return funds that you’ve already been paid.
– Be careful with your personal information. Never provide anyone with your personal information until you are sure you can trust them with it. Do all the necessary research before divulging anything personal. Never let someone pressure you into giving up your personal information because it’s a “now or never” offer.
– Watch out for easy hires. If a company claims they want to hire you without meeting you either virtually or in-person, and if they don’t conduct a job interview, you’re probably dealing with a scammer.
Michele Mason is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga