Recruitment Scams on the Rise- What to be Wary of When Job Searching
Finding a job that checks all your boxes is important to you, so when you find a job online that does just that, you get all excited. However, if the job, overall, sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Or, if something feels off about it, trust your first instinct and do additional research before you hit the “apply” button.
Fraudulent job posts increased by 295% following COVID. Knowing how desperate people were to find jobs at the time, especially remote jobs, cybercriminals took advantage of the situation. Over 20,700 people reported job and business opportunity scams during the first quarter of 2022, with close to 33% resulting in financial loss. Nearly $68M was lost by Americans because of job scams last year.
So, what are some typical job scams? And how can you protect yourself to avoid them? We answer these questions and more below.
Types of Job Recruiting Scams
Recruiter scams occur when a scammer poses as a potential employer to be able to steal identities, steal money, launder money, partake in illegal acts, and ship illegal goods overseas. Here are some common schemes scammers use to operate and implement their scams.
1. Job Offer Emailed from a Recruiter, Employer, or Job Board
You might receive an email from a supposed recruiter, employer, or job board inviting you to apply. If you did not solicit the communication, use caution.
2. Fake Jobs on Job Boards
This is one of the biggest scams online today. Scammers will post fake jobs on job boards to get you to apply for the job, so they can reach out to you to share their “amazing” opportunity. They hope you’ll fall for the scam and accept the job.
3. Fake Jobs on Social
Recruiting scams also occur on social media. LinkedIn recruiter scams are similar to the fake jobs on job board scams previously mentioned. Recruiting scams can also occur on other social platforms, like Facebook.
Avoiding Recruitment Scams – What to Watch Out for
There are several signs you can watch for to ensure you don’t get scammed by a fraudulent job offer. Five common ones are discussed below.
1. You’re Asked to Provide Personal Financial Information
If you’re asked for financial information, like a bank account, before completing a background check, it’s a sure sign that the job is a fraudulent one. It’s also a red flag if you’re asked for personal information, like your birth date or home address, early in the interviewing process.
2. Something Doesn’t Feel Right
If your intuition tells you that something doesn’t feel right about a job post, trust that. Look at it from an objective perspective to avoid getting overly excited about an opportunity that’s perfect timing or too good to be true. To be sure, reach out to an active recruiter or directly through the company website to confirm if the position is real.
3. You Can’t Find Information about the Company
Job candidates know it’s wise to research companies to prepare for their interviews. If you try to find information about a supposed prospective employer, hiring manager, or recruiter that reached out to you but find it too difficult, proceed with caution and move on.
4. The Job Post or Email Communication Is Unprofessional
When job posts and email communications have numerous and obvious spelling and grammatical errors, it’s a sign that the job isn’t legit. It’s also a red flag if it comes from a personal email address instead of a professional business email. Many recruitment scams will also use emails that look like business emails. For example, @realcompany.com and @realcompany.co. Always double check the email thoroughly before sending over any sensitive information.
5. You’re Quickly Presented with an Offer
Of course, you’d love it if all recruiters moved quickly and presented you with a job offer. However, because some positions require thorough screening, some offers, and interviews take time. If the employer is overly eager to show you the offer and is in a hurry to get a response, then the job likely falls into the recruiting scams pile.
Steps to Take if You Realize You Applied or Accepted a Recruiting Scam
Many individuals accept an offer or begin working for an organization before they realize they’ve been scammed. The moment you realize you’ve been scammed, report the entity to the authorities. You also want to report the entity and the job post to the job posting board or social media site where you applied for it.
Work with a Vetted Recruiter to Avoid Scams
When you work with a recruiter, you can trust you’re in good hands, as they scope out jobs and employers for you.
If you’re interested in legit job postings without the concern of recruitment scams, Advantis Global might be able to help. We work with many companies from Fortune 50s to start-ups seeking top contracts and permanent skilled tech talent. We’d love to help you land a job at your ideal company.
Submit your resume online or apply for a job to get connected to an Advantis Global recruiter.
