The job market is fraught with new challenges, as recruitment scams are on the rise, aiming to deceive hopeful candidates into parting with their personal information and money.
At a Glance
- FlexJobs screens jobs to help avoid scams.
- Scammers often target work-at-home job seekers.
- FTC reports job scams tripled between 2020 and 2021.
- Phishing and fake job boards are common scams.
Understanding the Threat of Recruitment Scams
Job scams have become increasingly complex, aiming to trick job seekers into sharing sensitive information or making upfront payments. These fraudulent activities often portray themselves as legitimate job offers through what seem like reputable organizations or enticing job descriptions. FlexJobs steps up to assist job seekers, hand-screening jobs and companies to protect candidates from scams. This endeavor offers a safe platform for those seeking legitimate work opportunities.
Remote and work-at-home positions have become a hotbed for scammers, particularly during the pandemic when remote work was at its peak. These scammers use sophisticated methods such as AI-generated jobs, cryptocurrency schemes, and fake job boards to appeal to unsuspecting job seekers. As reported by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), job scams saw a significant rise, marking a threefold increase from 2020 to 2021, demanding heightened caution from the public.
Recognizing the Red Flags
Red flags common in job scams include offers that seem “too good to be true,” requiring urgency in response, and contain grammatical errors or vague job postings. Scammers may pose as legitimate recruiters using fake URLs and company names, attempting to gather personal data such as Social Security numbers or bank information. Requests for such data, especially early in the hiring process, should be a cause for concern for every job seeker.
The ever popular phrase – “too good to be true” – is a popular enticement, – Jessica Howington from flexjobs.com.
Types of scams can vary widely, from upfront payment schemes to accomplice scams where victims unwittingly handle money or goods on behalf of scammers. Watch for suspicious phrases like “Your background would be perfect for this role…” or “We’d like to offer you the job immediately…” can help avoid deceitful offers, – Google
Steps for Safeguarding Against Scams
Job seekers must be proactive in protecting themselves. Conduct thorough research of potential employers and verify job postings with official company pages before proceeding. Trusted job boards like FlexJobs offer a secondary level of vetting to ensure the legitimacy of job listings. If a job seeker suspects they have been targeted by a scam, it is critical to avoid providing any personal information and to report the scam to the appropriate authorities, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
“We’ve really seen tremendous growth in job scams,” Velasquez said. “I think that’s just due to the fact that we fundamentally changed the way we recruit and hire people,” – from the Washington Post.
For those already victimized, contacting the bank immediately and reporting the scam to the platform where the job was posted can prevent further damage. Finally, steering clear of links in unsolicited messages and verifying recruiters’ identities via social media or official channels are key preventative measures.
