Employment Scams

Jobs that sound too good to be true should raise a red flag for any college student. Fake job postings abound in unsolicited e-mails sent to your student account and in online job listing sites. Fake jobs can be attempts to steal personal information about you or steal money or bank account information from you. You could also get entangled in criminal activity, so be cautious.

So how do you know who to trust? You can start with these basic guidelines to avoid a potential scam.

Never:

Never pay up front for a job offer or pay with gift cards.
Never give out personal information like your social security or bank account number over email or phone.
Never take cashier’s checks or money orders as a form of payment. Fake checks are common and the bank where you cash it will hold you accountable.
Never cash a check that comes with “extra” money. Scammers send checks that require you to deposit a check at your bank, withdraw the “extra” money as cash, and then deposit that cash elsewhere. The check will bounce and you will be held accountable.
Never wire funds via Western Union, MoneyGram or any other service. Anyone who asks you to wire money is a scammer.
Never apply for jobs listed by someone far away or in another country.
Never agree to a background check unless you have met the employer in person.
Never apply for a job that is emailed to you out of the blue.

Always:

Be skeptical. If a job is offering a lot of money for very little work, it could be a scammer trying to get personal information from you.
Research the employer. Do they have a reputable website or professional references? Is the job listing you want to apply for also on their main career page? Note: work-study jobs may not be advertised on employer websites.
Meet face-to-face with a potential employer. An in person interview or informal chat over coffee will help you determine the employer’s intentions.
- Be sure to choose a public place to meet, tell someone where you are going and bring your cell phone, just in case.
Trust your instincts. If a job sounds too good to be true, it is likely a scam.

You can refer to the Center for Career and Calling website for additional advice to avoid scams.

Job Scam Example

Click here to view a recent job scam targeting SPU Students...

===

Dear Selected SPU Student,

I am Dr. Neil Roberts. I specialize in arthroscopic surgery, sports medicine, trauma and fractures, and athletic injuries to the shoulder, elbow, and foot and ankle. I also have an interest in shoulder and knee replacement procedures. I am the team physician for Northwest University in Kirkland. I also served as team physician for the US Women's U20 National soccer team and other professional sports including hockey, golf and tennis. I am also involved with local high school and club sports teams. In addition, I am a consultant for Cirque du Soleil.

I'm dedicated to helping each of my patients gain maximum function and physical potential through individualized patient education and cutting-edge surgical and non-surgical treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. The most important part of my relationship with my patients is being a good listener. I learn so much from patients just listening and learning about their lives.

You have received this email because you have an offer through HANDSKATE, Career builders and University of South Carolina recruiting department to work with me while we help Students with disabilities frustrated with ignorance and lack of services but as my temporary personal assistant. I care about Animal Welfare, Arts and Culture, Children, Civil Rights and Social Action, Education, Environment, Disaster and Humanitarian Relief, Social Services and lots more.

This is a very simple employment. You will only help me Mail letters, Make payments at Walmart and purchase some Items when needed. This employment only takes an hour a day and 3 times a week for $620 weekly.

I am unable to meetup for an interview because I am currently away and helping the disabled students in Australia. You will be paid in advance for all tasks and purchased to be done on my behalf and some of my personal letters and mails will be forwarded to your residence or nearby post office for you to pick up at your convenience. Upon my arrival we will discuss the possibility of making this a long-term employment if I am impressed with your services while I am away. My arrival is scheduled for the last week of August 2018

To Apply, Reply with your Full name, Address, Alternate email (different from school email) and mobile and a correspondent will reply you as soon as possible.

Regards,

Neil E Roberts, MD

=================================================================================================

Visit the Federal Trade Commission or the FBI website for for more examples and signs of job scams.

Reporting Fraud & Scams

To report a scam, file a complaint online with the Federal Trade Commission. Check out their video on how to report scam and more ways to avoid fraud. You can also report fraud to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint office