Uncovering Fake Job Posts
As if it isn’t tough enough out there for job seekers, the UK Financial Security Association is reporting that fake job ads are up 345% over the last three years.
Those job seekers that use Craigslist probably aren’t shocked by this tidbit. But if you come from the day of job searching strictly with the classifieds, this may come as a bit of a shock to you.
Why would someone post a fake job?
•1. To obtain your email address and sell it to the highest bidder.
•2. To obtain even more lucrative information such as a driver’s license number or social security number and sell it.
•3. To lure you into a scam or pyramid scheme.
I’m not quite sure how these scammers sleep at night, but please don’t add to your list of troubles by falling prey to their devious schemes. Here are red flags to look for when applying to a less reputable company in a job post:
*Don’t ever give out your social security number unless you are filling out paperwork because you got the job (certain companies will require that information prior to the offer for background check purposes). Bottom line? If you are being prompted for your social in the initial stages, that is a red flag.
*If you aren’t sure that the company is legit, channel Sherlock Holmes and do some research. Check with the Better Business Bureau or use your local resources to find out if this company is real. Sometimes even a simple Google search will help unmask a shady company or character.
*Most fake postings are simply to obtain your email address, so beef up your email security settings so that your mailbox isn’t inundated with spam mail.
I know that many of you are in the job-seeking phase right now, or recently went through it. Did you have any horror stories from fake job postings? Better yet, do you have any additional tips for fellow job seekers?
Lauren Kleinman
Reader Comments (7)
My tip: If they're posting it on a free ad service (Craigslist, Kijiji, etc.), then they're probably just spamming. Not always, but you never know when you'll run into one.
Great and timely post, Lauren.
1) Many of these scams obviously take advantage of very different standards in different countries when it comes to resumes & applications. German applicants, for example, are used to include everything from their birth date to marital status. Not a few of them are easy prey for international scam artists who pose as, for example, U.S. companies, and ask them to also include their Social Security Number, if they are Greencard lottery winners in the U.S., bank account or PayPal information, for supposed application "processing fees" - nothing that any company in the U.S, would ever ask job applicants to provide.
2) Unfortunately, again and again we see job advertisements on well-known job boards that link to some shady outlet in Singapore or elsewhere, where the job application form requests such data. To us it seems like even some of the larger job banks don't have the most basic pre-publishing fraud screening procedures in place.
3) As for our bi-national niche, the Germany-USA Career Center has developed a German-language fraud warning (see URL) that points out these issues.
EXCERPT: The salary will amount $2000 during the studying period (the first month) and
$4000 afterwards.
In case of successful work you will be advanced to an expert consultant, whose
salary amounts $8000 + % from the orders.
The studying and all expenses connected with the professional needs are paid by
the company.
BE CAREFUL, PEOPLE!
All they wanted was my birthday. But with my full name and D.O.B. I'm sure they can do some serious damage.
#1. Is requiring 4 years collage degrees. Let me first say that I do understand it for highly technical applications such as IT and engineering but other than that it proves nothing and certainly is no guarantee of a successful sales rep or intelligence. In many cases quite the opposite. All that employers really need require is reasonable intelligence, ability to learn and or relative experience, ability to sell and a polished manner and appearance.
#2. If the employer is preforming testing during the interview process, let the test match the demands of the job. I have taken many tests as a process to employment and aced everyone of them except the last one. I went to an interview for an office products company, nohting extremely difficult or technical. They hadn't informed me that I would be given a test (they have since changed that on their ad). Not that I would have hesitated if they had. Well the test they gave me was completely left brain, not at all geared to ability to understand product or ability to sell or organize. It was like something you'd give to an IT person, engineer or scientist. It was absolutely a waste of time for me and them.
I have a blog www.freshresumes.net and I just wrote an article listing 100 job resources for those looking for jobs and I also wrote an article listing websites where you can search for freelance/work at home jobs. Take a look I hope it helps.
I also came through many such problems, I use to get many mails regarding job openings along with fake salary offerings, I think its better to enquire about the job first then one should apply for it.