One of the best feelings in the world is getting a new job, especially if it’s a significant bump in pay from the last one. Unfortunately, some jobs aren’t what they claim to be, and you may end up working a job that doesn’t pay, or you may even end up buying things for a job that never existed to begin with. For these reasons, it’s important to know how to determine if a job is legitimate or a scam, especially with many jobs being posted online.
The good news is that we’re here to help. In this article, we will take you through how to tell if a job is a scam. We cover the common warning signs and offer tips to help you navigate the ever-changing job market. Read on to learn more.
How to Tell if a Job Is a Scam: Four Examples
The best way to determine if a job is a scam is to look for some red flags. Thankfully, many of these job scammers can’t help themselves, so the warning signs are obvious. Learn about some common red flags of job scams below.
Upfront Fees
Any job that asks you for money up front is at least sketchy. While it may make sense in some industries, most jobs will equip you with the supplies you need to get the job done. If a job fails to give you the necessary supplies and asks for checks or money to buy equipment, like a laptop, you may be dealing with a job scam.
Unrealistic Promises
If something sounds too good to be true, it’s probably too good to be true. For example, if jobs offer you a salary that’s substantially higher than yours for the same job, it’s a red flag. Now, there are some rare cases where this may happen, but most of the time it’s a scam. For this reason, keep an eye on jobs that offer a lot of money for similar positions or entry-level positions that don’t seem to fit the norm.
No Time to Think
If you’re speaking with an interviewer and they need you to act immediately, you may be dealing with a job scam. While it’s okay for there to be some level of urgency, if you feel rushed or pressured into taking the position, it’s likely some type of scam. This is common in job scams because it doesn’t give you enough time to research the company.
Online Interviews
There’s nothing wrong with online interviews, but sometimes they suggest that you’re walking into a job scam. For example, if you’ve never met someone from the company, it’s possible that the company doesn’t exist. You may also notice spelling problems or communication from personal email accounts, messenger accounts, and other strange contact methods.
How to Protect Yourself From Job Scams
The best way to protect yourself from job scams is to stay informed and to know who you’re talking to. Whether you have a name or phone number, the best way to do this is with a public records search tool like Information.com – you can even perform a lookup there with just their email.
This tool enables you to learn more about someone or a business by providing you with all available public records. What makes this method effective is that you’ll know exactly who you’re talking to. For example, if you have an email address from someone named Tom and you run it through the search tool, you may find that the actual owner of the account is someone else, which is a sign of a scam.
This works for names, phones, addresses, and other information you have available. In fact, we recommend using this tool for any job as it’s a great way to know if something is legit.
How to Tell if a Job Is a Scam: Our Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, millions of job scams are posted each year, and thousands of people end up getting stuck in them. While some scams may only leave you without a job, others may cost you thousands of dollars and even leave you with a stolen identity or debt. Plus, who wants to waste their time when they could be working a legitimate job?
Thankfully, following the tips in this article makes it easy to know how to tell if a job is a scam. Simply compare the listing to some of the red flags we cover in this article to know for sure.
