When we engage in the job search process, we typically determine our job target, update our resume, write a cover letter, network, interview, and hope for an offer. But now, we also need to determine if a job posting or a recruiter contacting us represents a legitimate job or a scam!  The vast majority of job postings are for real, existing jobs, but according to the US Federal Trade Commission, business and job scams are one of the top five areas of fraud in the US. Understanding how job scams work and how to identify them can help us protect ourselves and make safer decisions.

Fraudulent job scams are fake or misleading employment opportunities designed to deceive job seekers. While some scams aim to directly steal money, others may focus on collecting personal data such as social security numbers, bank account details, or identity documents.

These scams may appear on legitimate job boards, social media platforms, through email, or as text messages. Scammers often impersonate well-known companies, universities, healthcare systems, or staffing agencies to appear credible.

Common scams include:

• Fake recruiters: Individuals who falsely claim to be recruiters or impersonate real recruiters.
• Fake job offers: Positions that promise high pay, flexible hours, and minimal experience requirements.
• Payment requests: Requests to pay for a job, background checks, equipment, training, or fees.
• Check or reimbursement scams: The fake employer sends a check to purchase equipment and asks the job seeker to return unused funds.
• Data-harvesting: Postings solely designed to collect personal information.

These scams have become more sophisticated. The scammer can research real employees at an organization and reference these individuals in their communications to appear legitimate. They may also use this information to impersonate actual managers or recruiters at an organization.

What to watch for:

• Unprofessional communication: Messages with grammatical errors, odd phrases, or communications sent at times outside of typical business hours.
• Vague or unrealistic job descriptions or offers: Inconsistent or unrealistic salary and job details, being offered a job without an interview, or receiving only brief communication and being pressured to act quickly.
• Suspicious email domains or links: Emails are from a personal email rather than a company domain. When you hover your cursor over a link, the domain name in the actual URL does not match the information in the hyperlink.
• Requests for personal or financial information: Early requests for sensitive personal information such as a social security number or banking information.
• Requests for payments or fees: Asked to make a payment or return part of a payment made to you. 

If something doesn’t seem right, VERIFY!

How to protect yourself during a job search:

The best defense is to stay informed and be proactive. Here are some steps to take:

• Be cautious and verify recruiter identities and job offers: Use information on company websites or contact Human Resources departments to verify information.
• Verify the offer before sharing personal information: Do not share personal information before verifying the legitimacy of the job offer.
• Check email address: Notice if the individual contacting you is using a personal email account that does not have a company domain. 
• Check the URL of any links. Hover your cursor over the link and look at the actual domain name in the URL. If there are discrepancies in spelling or odd characters in the domain name, do not click on the link.
• Be suspicious and verify before making any upfront payments or purchases: The vast majority of jobs will not require upfront payments.There may be exceptions, for example the purchase of uniforms.

Now that you know how to protect yourself from job scams, it’s time to uncover real job opportunities using Walden Career Planning and Development’s job search resources:

• Explore the job search resources on the Career Planning and Development website’s Job and Internship Search page:
  • Register on the Walden Job and Internship Locator job board.
  • Explore the GoinGlobal job search system.
  • Use the Job Search by Subject resources to find job sites based on your interests.
• Review the Job Search Fundamentals Modules to gain job search skills.
• Schedule an appointment with a Walden career advisor to discuss career-related topics including job search strategies.

For additional information on job scams, refer to the following resources from the US Federal Trade Commission:

Job Scams Explained | consumer.gov
If You Were Scammed | consumer.gov
Descriptions of common job scams
Webinar: Consumer Protection: Job Searching Strategies to Protect Against Scams, Fraud, and Identity Theft by WorkforceGPS in collaboration with the Federal Trade Commission and the US Department of Labor

If you believe you have received fraudulent communications about a job at Covista (which includes Walden University jobs), please contact: tafeedback@covista.com

If you receive a suspicious or unsolicited email claiming to come from Walden University, contact Technical Support at (855) 639-5499, option 1.

Written by Denise Pranke, Specialist, Department of Career Planning and Development