Job Hunters Beware
In this day and age lots of people are looking for employment. The BBB is advising job hunters to be alert as scammers are looking to take advantage of those who are already facing tough financial situations.
BBB advises job hunters to beware of:
Job offers that require an upfront fee
In Florida a company claimed it was looking to hire 2,500 employees for their new headquarters. Applicants had to submit $24 to pay for a background check. Law enforcement later found out that the money only went to the pockets of the company’s owner.
BBB advice: Job hunters should never have to pay money up front to be considered for a job. If a potential employer asks you to pay to cover the costs of testing, training or background checks, it should be considered a red flag.
Job placement assistance that makes big promises but can’t deliver
Job placement companies, or headhunter firms, often do not charge the job seekers for help finding a job, but are instead paid by companies that need help filling positions. Some job placement companies, however, have been taking money from job hunters and not fulfilling their promises of quick employment.
BBB Advice: Always research a job placement company first with BBB before signing any contracts or paying any money. Be extremely cautious about paying up front fees and get the details about how to get a refund.
Phishing attempts by ID thieves pretending to be real businesses
Identity thieves employ many different methods for getting personal financial information from job hunters. For example, spam e-mail often directs job hunters to websites that install malware on their computers or solicit bank account or Social Security numbers. Sometimes job hunters are asked to submit a resume, they find out they’ve been hired and then immediately are asked for their bank account or Social Security numbers.
BBB Advice: Be extremely cautious when responding to unsolicited e-mails from supposed employers—even if the company name is well-known. Do not click on any links in the e-mail until having vetted the company fully and confirming that the e-mail came from a legitimate source. Legitimate employers will need Social Security numbers for tax purposes and may need a bank account number to deposit paychecks for new employees, but only after you’re on the job. Be wary of any requests for personal information from companies.
For more advice on avoiding scams and fraud visit www.bbb.org