Spotting Job Scams Before They Spot You
October Scam of the Month
What is a Job Scam?
Job scams are fraudulent offers that look like legitimate employment opportunities but are designed to steal personal information and money. Scammers may impersonate real companies, send fake job offers via text or email, or demand payment for things like training or equipment that never materialize.
Common Job Scams to Watch Out For
Fake Job Listings: Fraudulent ads are posted on legitimate job boards or social media platforms. They may mimic real companies or invent fake ones.
Spot the Red Flags:
Vague job descriptions.
Unclear company information or no website.
Communication via personal email accounts (like Gmail or Yahoo).
Offers with unrealistic pay or "immediate hiring" without an interview.
Imposter Job Offers: Scammers pose as HR representatives from real companies and initiate contact with you through email, social media platforms, or job board messaging systems.
Spot the Red Flags:
Asked to provide personal or banking information early in the process.
Communication comes from suspicious or unofficial email addresses.
Job listing cannot be found on the company website.
No formal interview process.
Remote / Work-from-Home Offers: Appear to offer easy, flexible jobs like data entry, product testing, or shipping/receiving roles. Often require payment for products, equipment, software, or "training materials."
Spot the Red Flags:
Asked to pay out-of-pocket expenses before beginning work.
Promises of high income for minimal effort.
Involvement in reshipping goods or transferring funds.
Fake Check, Mystery Shopper, & Reshipping Offers: Victims receive counterfeit checks and are told to deposit them, keep a portion, and send the rest elsewhere. Disguised as secret shopper jobs, package forwarding, or payment processing roles.
Spot the Red Flags:
Asked to handle money or packages immediately after "hiring."
Urgent instructions to wire money or purchase gift cards.
Checks that bounce, leaving you financially responsible.
Phishing or “Smishing” Job Offers: Unsolicited messages claiming you’ve been selected for a job for which you didn’t apply. Common on mobile phones and emails, often linking to phishing websites.
Spot the Red Flags:
Poor spelling and grammar.
Pressure to act quickly or click a link.
Job details are vague or too good to be true.
Communication via non-professional email or unknown phone numbers.
How to Protect Yourself
Always research the company. Look for a legitimate website, employee reviews, physical address, etc. Add words like “scam,” “reviews,” or “complaints” in your search.
Don’t provide sensitive personal or financial information until you're sure the job is real.
Never pay to get a job, pay for “training,” or buy equipment before being hired.
Be suspicious of offers that seem “too good to be true,” especially if the interview is immediate or only via chat/messaging apps.
Insist on more formal communication such as a video or phone interview, a contract or written offer, and confirmation of employer address & phone.
Helpful Tip
Use safe and reliable resources when searching for a job:
USAJobs.gov — Federal government’s official site with job openings nationwide.
CareerOne Stop — Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, lists of jobs and links to employment and training programs in each state.
USA.gov — Find local government websites, which list any open positions they may have on their websites.
Better Business Bureau (BBB) – Use the BBB search tool to verify if a company is legitimate.
Job searching can be stressful—and scammers know that. But taking a few extra steps to verify things can save you a lot of trouble. Trust your instincts, if something does not feel right, pause, investigate, and protect yourself.
Where To Report?
Report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) online or call 1-877-438-4338. Use the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center to file a complaint. Monitor your credit and bank accounts closely. Consider freezing or placing alerts if you shared too much sensitive info. Contact local law enforcement if you have suffered losses.