How to Spot Remote Work Job Scams
Looking for a remote job? It’s a great idea for many ND individuals as these (usually) freelance jobs allow you to self-accommodate in ways that are most conducive to your workplace productivity. However, those seeking remote jobs need to be super vigilant in order to avoid remote work job scams.
Scammers understand how popular the concept of working from home is, and they exploit that popularity to perpetrate various scams. Sadly, the scams seem as prevalent as the legit jobs. In fact, most legit remote work sites will have pages warning applicants against potential scams that may be committed in their names.
When it comes to remote work, these two realities exist at the same time for would-be remote work job hunters:
1. Tons of legitimate remote work jobs exist and can be found online.
2. Tons of scammers preying on remote work job hunters also exist.
Don’t get burned!
This post will help you identify and avoid remote work scams, without having to pass by legit work from home opportunities.
What are remote work scams?
A job scam is a false work offer designed to mislead the job seeker.
Scammers are trying to get their hands on money and/or your personal information. They know that during a job interview, you might be less protective of personal information than you would be in other situations, and they are trying to exploit that. Posing as recruiters or even company representatives scammers post fake job postings. Be aware:
These jobs will appear authentic. Sometimes they will use company names similar to real ones, or it might seem as if they are actually working for the company they are falsely representing.
Even on legitimate platforms like ZipRecruiter and Indeed, scammers are impersonating real employers. They might even schedule interviews and send you paperwork that appears legitimate.
Sometimes these scammers use stolen identities or compromised social media accounts to make their frauds appear more legitimate.
· Some scammers will try to scam you for cash.
· Other scammers are trying to steal personal information so that they can use for nefarious purposes.
Remote work job scams can take any number of forms and this landscape is always changing so you should always stay aware.
Warning signs of remote work scams
Recognizing remote work job scam warning signs and taking protective measures is crucial to preventing yourself from falling victim to a job scam. Be aware if any of these scenarios apply and investigate further (how to investigat companies is in tomorrow’s post):
Too good to be true and/or too high compensation:
If a job offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If the salary is out of line with the business norms, or the benefits package too high, without good reasons (you must be on call 24/7 for instance), you should do more investigating.
Things move too fast:
If you move from interview to filling out employment forms too fast, look twice. This example of typical scam behavior comes from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC):
“As soon as you apply, the so-called employer only wants to schedule an interview using Signal Messenger or similar text-only apps. You agree, answer a few questions — and bam, you got the job! The next thing you know, they’re asking you to fill out direct deposit and tax forms with your bank account and other personal information. In some cases, they might send you a large check with instructions to set up your home office. But by the time you realize the job is fake, the scammers already have your money and information.”
Asks for personal or financial information:
Legitimate job offers only require you to provide your social security number or other personal and/or confidential information after formal employment offers are made. If a recruiter or potential employer wants this information before you have been formally hired, it should be a MAJOR red flag. If this happens to you, we advise you to say you never share such information before the on boarding process. We predict you will never hear from them again. That’s a good thing. You just avoided a scam.
Asks for financial information:
Job offers that request credit card information or bank account numbers aren’t legitimate. In certain roles, especially in the financial arena, you might be required to complete a credit check. However, this should only occur in the final stages of the hiring process and is generally completed by a verifiable company, NOT your prospective employer.
Asks for money for training and/or equipment: If a job offer comes with a requirement for you to pay for training, courses, training materials, equipment, or a background check, it’s likely an employment scam. Be aware that this is different than a job requiring you to have certain certifications that prove your qualifications. However, you should be able to verify the cost and requirements independently of the job. If it seems like the purpose of the job is to sell you something, think twice.
Asks for wire transfers: This goes along with asking for money, but there is no credible reason, NONE, where you should ever have to wire money or deposit a check somewhere to get a job.
Offers to pay you in advance: This too is a scam to gain access to your personal and bank account information. Nobody is going to pay you in advance. Never accept money in advance from a potential employer.
No online presence:
If you are having trouble finding information about the company online, it’s likely a scam. Most every company has a website and/or social media presences. If there is nothing to find, think twice about the legitimacy of the offer.
No reliable contact info:
Along those same lines, if you have trouble trying to figure out how to contact a company, that could be a sign of a scam? Authentic companies have verifiable contact details available where clients and business partners can reach them.
The company looks questionable:
A website that is unprofessional or super basic, or sketchy in any other way, should raise some suspicions. For instance, you are applying for a job with a shoe company, but the website is talking about financial planning.
Questionable communication methods:
If your communication starts on a platform such as LinkedIn or other social media platforms, it should quickly move to a more professional mode such as via email and/or phone. If the job poster insists on using messaging systems such as Messenger, WhatsApp, or Telegram, something’s not right. However, know that when it comes to interviews, legit employers will use video chat programs such as Zoom or Google Meetups.
Emails come from unofficial domains:
Email communications you get from the recruiter or personnel manager should come from an official company email, not something generic. Also, look carefully at the email and make sure it is real. For instance, @msnbc.com as opposed to @mmsnbc.com.
Communications are filled with typos and grammatical errors:
A misspelled word and even two might not be cause for alarm, but unprofessional communications filled with glaring grammatical errors and lots of typos should make you investigate things further
The job listing and qualifications are vague:
Most legit job listings with clearly outline the duties, requirements, and expectations. If a job offer is vague, that should be a red flag. With this technique, scammers are casting a wide net in order to appeal to as many unsuspecting job applicants as possible.
No interview or too easy an interview:
Legitimate companies will take the time to interview candidates. They want to understand your skills and qualifications, and whether you would be a good fit in the company overall. If the interviewer seems uninterested or unprepared, it might be a sign that the job isn’t real. Likewise, if you are offered a job without any interview at all, know this is not the way business is typically done (unless your dad is friends with the owner). Most jobs have more than one candidate, so anytime you are instantly offered a position, it should give you pause. Investigate more.
Be sure to also see: Part II: How to Prevent Being a Victim of Work from Home Job Scams