Steps to Avoid Applying for Job Posting Scams

Scammers are getting more sophisticated every day, and one of the latest trends is job scams. These predators take advantage of people looking for employment. Here’s how they operate and how you can protect yourself from falling prey to these schemes.

A job scammer attempts to snatch ideas from an unsuspecting worker online.

How Job Scams Work

1. Using Real Company Names

Scammers fraudulently use a company’s name and logo, sometimes even the names of the company’s employees handling recruiting or human resources, to solicit applications from job seekers for fake jobs. This tactic lends credibility to their scams and makes it harder for job seekers to spot the deception.

2. Varied Platforms for Solicitation

The solicitation can come via email, but it’s also common to see these fake job postings on professional or recruiting websites like Indeed.com, ZipRecruiter, or social media platforms.

3. Similar but Fake Email Addresses

Like most phishing schemes, the scammer’s email address is similar to, but not the same as, the legitimate company’s email address. This slight difference can be easily overlooked, making it crucial to pay close attention. Sometimes they use domains that do not belong to any company.

4. Fake Interviews and Job Offers

Job seekers responding to the scammer’s solicitation are often offered fake job interviews by phone, sometimes video calls, followed by fake job offers. These interactions seem legitimate and are designed to build trust.

5. Request for Personal Information

As part of “onboarding,” scammers ask the new “employee” for personal information such as a Social Security Number or bank account details for direct deposit. In some cases, scammers even ask for money to run background checks, verify certifications, or cover alleged “advance costs” of office supplies. With many jobs involving remote or home offices, these requests may not seem unreasonable at first glance.

How to Avoid Falling Prey

1. Do Your Due Diligence

Focus on quality over quantity in your job applications, as I recommend in more detail in my article here. This allows you the time to research each company. Check the company’s website and find their career section, especially if it’s a large company. This step can help you verify if the job posting is legitimate.

2. Apply Through Official Channels

If you see the same job on the company’s official career section, apply there instead of through third-party sites. Most of the time, the other career site should redirect you to the company’s.

3. Verify the Recruiter

Google the recruiter’s name and the company. If you can’t find their profile on LinkedIn, that’s a red flag since most recruiters are on LinkedIn. If they have a verified check mark on LinkedIn, even better. Not everyone has this verification, but it’s an added layer of security.

4. Check LinkedIn for Consistency

Look for the company on LinkedIn and compare the information you got from the recruiter with what you find online. For example, if the recruiter says the company specializes in telecommunications, but when you google it, the information you find says the company does logistics, consider it a warning sign.

5. Examine the Email Address

Check the email address for the correct domain. Sometimes, companies use external recruiters, so Google the domain. If you can’t find a legitimate company associated with that domain, be cautious.

6. Too Good to Be True Offers

Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true, especially if you haven’t provided your information. Scams often promise high pay for minimal work. For example, I constantly receive texts offering jobs paying $10k a month for 30 minutes of work daily. This is clearly a red flag.

7. Ask for Full Job Descriptions

If you receive a message offering you a job via LinkedIn from someone with a seemingly legitimate profile, ask for the full job description. In many cases, scammers won’t provide it. Sometimes, even legitimate recruiters send this type of message only to fill their database. I also receive this type of message, and 9 out of 10 times, they don’t send the job description.

8. Never Send Money

Never, no matter what, send money to a potential employer, even if they send you a check first. They are supposed to pay you, not the other way around. Scammers might even send a fake check, ask for payment from your side, and then their check bounces.

9. Be Cautious of Uncommon Communication Platforms

If the call is on WhatsApp, Facebook (unless you are applying for a job at Meta), Signal, or any platform not commonly used for business communications, triple-check the legitimacy. Most companies use Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Zoho, and Google Hangout for interviews.

Final Thoughts

These scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, sometimes even using AI tools to create avatars that sound like real humans. While this extra research might seem like a lot of work on top of your job search, spending an additional 30 minutes can save you a lot of time, energy, and potentially money.

Have you had an experience like this? Any suggestions for this article are more than welcome. Stay vigilant and safe in your job search!