What Are Employment Scams?

Employment scams involve fraudsters pretending to offer legitimate job opportunities to deceive victims. These scams often target job seekers, leading them to pay upfront fees or provide personal information, which can be used for financial fraud or identity theft.

How Do They Work?

Scammers typically:

• Post fake job listings on legitimate job boards or social media.
• Offer high-paying jobs that require upfront fees for training or equipment.
• Ask for personal information under the guise of background checks.
• Provide fake checks for victims to deposit, later asking them to return a portion of the funds.

Examples of Employment Scams

Employment scams involve fraudsters pretending to offer legitimate job opportunities to deceive victims. Below are common examples of how these scams are executed:

• Fake Job Listings: Scammers post fake job listings on legitimate job boards or social media platforms, offering attractive salaries for non-existent positions. These listings are designed to lure victims into applying and sharing personal information.
• Upfront Payment for Job Training or Equipment: Fraudsters offer high-paying jobs that require upfront fees for training or equipment. After the payment is made, the victim is either left with useless materials or no job at all.
• Phony Background Checks: Scammers ask for personal details under the guise of conducting background checks. These details can later be used for identity theft or other fraudulent activities.
• Fake Checks for Deposits: Fraudsters send fake checks for victims to deposit into their accounts. After the check is deposited, the scammer asks the victim to return a portion of the funds, leaving the victim with an overdraft or loss.

How to Avoid Employment Scams

• Research the company and verify the job listing's legitimacy.
• Be cautious of job offers that require upfront payments or fees.
• Avoid sharing personal information with unverified employers.
• Trust your instincts and avoid offers that seem too good to be true.

Category

Job-Related Scam