Spotting Scammers While Job Hunting
I have been job hunting for around seven months now, and I am amazed at the number of scam job listings, emails, and texts I have encountered. Some are more obvious than others, but I hope this helps someone spot them and not lose their time or information.
The most straightforward sign is that the sender's email name does not match the name of the person identifying themselves in the message.
The email has no signature, not even the company's or agency's name.
The email address domain is not the company or agency. Usually, when someone works at a company or agency, their email address has that name on the domain, i.e., john.doe@hp.com. If the email address looks something like john.doe5698@gmail.com, it is most likely a scam.
Ask for the job listing, job description, or company job posting so you can look it up and ensure it is legitimate. If they refuse to give it or make it complicated by over-explaining, this should set off red flags.
They ask you for your social security number to verify that you are a US citizen over text or WhatsApp. This one disappointed me and made me laugh at its lack of creativity.
They become incredibly demanding and aggressive for a response, sometimes for days.
When the company name is given, look it up. If there is a website for it, but you are still not convinced because the address name and company name are different, you can scroll down to see the date the page was created. Usually, they are made a couple of weeks or days before the scam and then taken down.
They reached out to you via text regarding one job listing. After a bit of back-and-forth, you asked for the job description, and they came back with seven open positions and asked which one you were applying for. The text message was specific for ONE position. Why now mention seven when you asked for the position's job description? It seems fishy and underhanded, especially for people who have been job hunting for a while and are getting desperate.
They start treating you as if you are hired and will get training without you even interviewing. Be wary of companies that skip standard interview procedures. A reputable company will usually conduct a formal interview process rather than making an offer based solely on a brief conversation.
You have received the same type of text message regarding various positions (sometimes from the same number), and the company name changes or the positions change.
This one was my favorite. You receive a text with the same format for a position, but the phrase "Company name here" got left in.
Never click on a link that says, "To apply to this great position, click here," unless you know the source.
They ask inappropriate, off-topic interview questions, such as your social security number, marriage status, or bank account information (yes, some do ask). If the interview is conducted over an unprofessional platform (like a personal video call with little prior scheduling) or the hiring urgency is too high, this could be a sign to proceed with caution. Note: When applying to some jobs, it is customary to ask for a social security number, but only when filling out the job application or after someone hires you. It is not typical for a "recruiter" to ask it in the interview or text.
When you fill out a job application, they send you an email notifying you that you applied but ask in a follow-up email to pay a fee to have priority for the job.
Scammers often use poor grammar or spelling errors in their communications. If the email or message seems unprofessional, it's a major red flag.
Research the company for reviews on platforms like Glassdoor, Indeed, or Google Reviews. Genuine companies often have a presence where employees can leave feedback.
Please practice due diligence when job searching. Although scammers have become more creative and ruthless, they are limited by people giving out information or making mistakes. Look for job listings on websites you trust and research the company. Unfortunately, LinkedIn has also become a hub for scam job listings, but you can report the listing so it gets removed. Ask friends or colleagues if they've heard of the company or position. Sometimes, a simple question can reveal a lot about the legitimacy of a job offer.
