by Oliver Fultz
27. July 2009 10:08
Today’s job-hunter has to watch out for a new danger – on-line job scams that target vulnerable job-seekers. Although this is a growing problem, you can reduce your risks of being the victim of a job scam by following some simple rules:
- Don’t assume all jobs posted on the Internet – even on well-known job sites – are legitimate. While these sites are monitored for fraud, the large volume of jobs posted means that some fake jobs may avoid detection, at least temporarily.
- Never give out personal bank account, PayPal account, or credit card numbers to a potential employer. By creating a fake job ad, scammers can trick job hunters into sending private financial information. This approach is called phishing.
- Always enter web site addresses manually into your browser – rather than clicking on links from e-mails – to avoid another scam, called pharming, which involves redirecting a user from a legitimate company’s web site to a fake web site that will steal personal information for criminal purposes.
- Do not agree to have funds or paychecks deposited to any on your personal accounts. Also, do not forward, transfer, or wire money for an employer. Transferring money for an employer may actually make you a victim of a payment-forwarding scam run by organized crime groups.
- Unless you are applying for a job with the federal or state government, never e-mail your Social Security number to a supposed “employer” until you have confirmed that they are a legitimate company. Make sure you can reach them during regular business hours.
- Beware of any employer that asks for money upfront for a job.
- Never mail or fax scans of your driver’s license. One common scam is for a fake employer to respond to an on-line résumé by asking for your Social Security number or driver’s license so they can “do a background check” on you before they hire you. However, a real company will generally want to meet you first before checking your background.
If you want to file a complaint about a fraudulent job posted on an on-line job search web site, you can call the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or file a complaint on their web site, which is www.ftc.gov. Just click on “File a Complaint Online”.
Remember, if an offer seems “too good to be true” – it probably is! Trust your instincts and always be vigilant.
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