Avoiding Online Job Scams
Posted in Online Job Search
Online job scams have recently cropped up in time with the recent economic recession. The increasing population on the unemployment line has led to many people increasingly looking online for job opportunities.
And along the way, scammers have looked into this development as a good opportunity to look for new victims. The desperation to find a new job makes many people easily vulnerable to the various scams online that target job seekers.
Bogus Job Search Sites
One of the more common job scams on the Web are those that offer job seekers look for employment for a fee. The need for new employment may lead online job seekers to fall for this scam by agreeing to pay for the usually high upfront fees in the belief that it will help them find new work more quickly.
Don't try to be fooled by such job sites demanding fees to find jobs for you. Most of the more legitimate sites are usually paid for by the employers and not by the job seekers.
Bogus Employer Scams
There are also scammers online who pose as employers to lure in victims. The scams usually involve getting information about certain job seekers and then contacting them about a job opening that may involve a very attractive job offer.
Once the job seeker is lured by the offer, the scammer then asks for the job seekers personal information which might include bank account, credit card and Social Security numbers.
Avoiding Scams
Because of the current poor economic outlook, many people can be victimized by such job scams. It takes more vigilance and better awareness to keep one from being scammed by such con artists. Although such job offers may be quite irresistible especially for a person facing unemployment, taking careful steps can help one avoid becoming a victim.
Avoid providing personal information online. This is what most job scams are after. The lure of a good and attractive job offer can lead people to give out personal information online that should have remained private. Avoid giving such confidential information online, even to someone calling himself the employer. Legitimate employers do not require this from job seekers.
Avoid getting paychecks by direct deposit to your accounts. A new employer requiring this might be a scammer especially if it is the only option being provided. Try also to avoid employers who might request you to use your own account for certain company wire transfers. This might be a money laundering strategy and can get you into trouble.
Research on an employer before making any decisions. It always pays to know whom you will be working for before you accept any job offer online. Try to take a look at the company and what they do business in before you try to accept any job offers from them. Be wary of companies or businesses that you can get little or no info on.
