Employment Scams You Need to Be Aware Of
Everyone talks about phone scams, dating scams, and internet scams. Somehow, employment scams slide under the radar.
Employment scams are interesting because few people see them coming.
What’s the Point of an Employment Scam
There are three main reasons that employment scams exist.
Making Fast Money
Some people will launch an employment scam because they want to make money. These types of employment scams are especially common with virtual positions. The way they work is that the person offers a job, but they charge some type of fee, usually in the form of a sign-up fee. The scam’s creator pockets the money and is never heard of again.
Gaining Personal Information
A surprising number of employment scams are designed to gather personal information that can be used for identity theft. These employment scams can happen virtually or in person. They’re effective because no one thinks twice about providing a great deal of information, including addresses, social security numbers, and even banking information, when they are in the process of transitioning to a new job.
Acquiring Free Labor
Probably the most common type of employment scam is the one designed to acquire free labor. The job exists, and the new hire does the work, but for some reason, a paycheck never materializes. The problem that many people face with this type of employment scam is proving that they were, in fact, told that they were going to get paid.
How to Avoid Employment Scams
While it might be impossible to completely avoid employment scams, there are some things you can do to limit the amount of contact you have with them.
Use a Reputable Source to Find Job Listings
Many of us use websites to learn about available jobs. These sites are great for seeing what’s available and comparing one job posting to another. The problem is that some of the job search sites are legit, and some are not. Stick to the sites that have a reputation for pairing people with jobs. If you’ve never heard of a site before or can’t find proof that anyone you know has ever used it, stay away from the jobs they have posted.
Research the Company
Before sending in your application, set aside some time to research the company. Most of job search sites include reviews that are written by people who have been employed by the business. The great thing about these reviews is that not only do they confirm that it’s an authentic business, but it also provides you with some useful insight into the business’s working conditions and allows you to decide if it’s a place you really want to work.
Does it Sound too Good to Be True
If a job is promising you great hours, minimal effort, and extraordinary pay, you should approach it with caution. While there are some really great jobs out there, the general rule of thumb is that if it sounds too good to be true, it is probably a scam.
Top Internet Scams
Shortly after the internet was created, the internet scam was born. It’s amazing the number of different ways the internet has been used to scam different people. It seems like every single year, a new scam hits the virtual world and people start falling for it. While new internet scams are interesting and you should stay on top of the newest scam trends so you can identify the early warning signs, some have withstood the test of time.
Here are the top internet scams of all time.
Email Phishing
Email phishing is a type of internet scam that’s nearly as old as email itself.
Email phishing is a type of scam that involves a con artist sending out emails that look like they come from a legit organization or person. The main purpose of these types of emails is to collect personal information, particularly credit card numbers, which the scammer then uses for their benefit.
One of the most famous email phishing scams is the pseudo-Nigerian prince who used to send out emails asking for donations.
Tech Support Scams
Tech support scams are becoming increasingly common. This type of internet scam works because we’ve grown so accustomed to using virtual tech support options. The difference is that the virtual support you’ve sought out is usually legit. The tech support scams never are.
The way tech support scams work is that someone either calls or emails you. They claim to be from a major computer system company, security company, or common tech store. They then launch into a spiel about how they believe you’re computer is infected. Not only does the malware infection negatively impact your computer’s performance, but the tech support con artist will also explain how it could compromise your identity and steal credit card information.
The problem is that your computer isn’t currently infected. The con artist plans to place some malware on it that will allow them to collect your sensitive data. They do this in a manner that’s both easy to fall for and hard to trace.
Social Media Fraud
Social media fraud is an internet scam that doesn’t get quite as much attention as it should. The idea behind social media scams s that someone will connect with you via a social media channel. They often do this by posing as your friend. They can do this because they create a mirror account that not only uses your friend’s name but also their profile picture. They will usually send a private message that starts as a friendly conversation but quickly turns into a desperate plea for money.
The two best ways to make sure you don’t fall victim to a social media scam are contacting your friend directly and asking the scammer specific questions. If they don’t provide you with the type of answer you’d expect from your friend, report the fake account.