Job Scam Red Flags

The increase in remote work availability has created room for bad actors to attempt to scam workers interested in working from home. ProPublica published an article in 2021 talking about the wave of scams targeting people out of work because of the pandemic. FlexJobs also has a great webinar posted on YouTube about how to avoid job scams. Read on below for a quick roundup of red flags you should look out for.

1. They contact you via text about a “work from home opportunity”. These scam jobs might advertise that you can “be your own boss”.
   • This could involve a “job placement fee” or purchasing equipment up front and then you never get reimbursed.
   • They might ask you to buy and then resell their product to people you know.
   • They ask you to receive packages at your home and then reship them to an address you’ve been given. Then, your paycheck never arrives.
2. Some scam jobs are posted on social media sites like Facebook from a ghost account. Ghost accounts frequently have very little activity on their profile, or you might not be able to verify who they are by attempting to view their profile.
3. You get the job very easily. There is either no interview, or the “interview” is on Skype or WhatsApp.
4. The job is posted on a sketchy website, or the company’s website looks questionable. For example, the job is advertised as “at” Amazon, but the website address is “xyz.amazon.com” or “amezon.com” instead of amazon.com.
5. They pay above and beyond and need you to start today – after you fill out all the employment paperwork. This “pre-screening,” is required immediately and includes your bank account, social security number, and other personal information. There are several things that can happen in a situation like this:
   • You might end up with credit card charges you didn’t approve.
   • Your identity could get stolen.
   • They might deposit a check and then send the money back due to “overpayment.” This is an example of a check fraud scheme.

If you get caught in a scam, contact the company you used to send money. Report the fraud to the police. Ask your credit card or banking company to have the transaction reversed. Then, report the scam to both the Illinois Attorney General and the FTC. You might also want to freeze your credit.