The Better Business Bureau has received over a dozen reports of employment scams in the state of Nebraska this year, which has cost victims more than $10,000. In case you think you wouldn’t fall for one, keep in mind that a recent victim was robbed of $4,000 from a job she applied for on LinkedIn.
Josh Planos, Vice President of Communications for the Better Business Bureau, tells KLIN, “A lot of times, these postings will be available on reputable sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Jobs.com. It’s less that folks are poking around corners of the Internet that are typical hallmarks or landing spots for scam-related activity.”
So, what are some ways to differentiate a job and something that could rob you of thousands of dollars? There are some telltale signs.
First, be wary of anything that takes communication away from the platform you’re using to a messaging app like Telegram. As long as you’re in touch on Facebook Marketplace, Upworthy, Indeed, etc, then you have some protection. Once your talks move to an external app, however, those platforms’ hands are tied.
Scammers have also been known to weaponize how long it takes for a check to bounce to their advantage in order to get access to your personal and payment information. You may also be asked to spend money to build your own home office in the first two weeks of employment through an obscure company that the scammers profit from.
Finally, be wary of easy hires. If a company says they want to hire you without meeting you in person or online and there’s no job interview, you’re likely dealing with a scammer. Do your research so you know whether or not you should trust the company in question with your personal information, and beware of jobs that involve receiving and returning money. Companies usually don’t send money for work that hasn’t been done, and it’s unlikely that a legitimate job will ask you to pay anything to apply.
And remember the all-important rule: If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.
Read the Better Business Bureau’s job scams study to learn more about employment scams and how to avoid them. You can also find good general information at BBB.org/AvoidScams
Become a skilled scam spotter by visiting BBB.org/SpotaScam and report any suspicious activity to BBB.org/ScamTracker.