If the job you’re looking for seems too good to be true, there’s a chance it may be! As work-from-home jobs become more popular, scammers are targeting this market with what appear to be lucrative job offers. These fake recruiters will reach out to would-be applicants via chat apps, social media, or text messages, claiming to have found their resumes online. An interview is conducted over a chat app, such as Telegram, and a job offer is made. The applicant is then asked to provide personal identifiers for direct deposit, including date of birth and banking information. Some scammers will even give the applicant a check to buy a laptop and other supplies and then turn around and request reimbursement for an accidental overpayment. The original payment, however, was a fraudulent check.
If any exchange of information or communication for employment is through a chat app such as Telegram, there is a high likelihood that the job is a scam.
Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim:
- Research the company online to verify that the company is legitimate.
- Check for warnings by Googling the company name with the word “scam.”
- Do not share any personal information over chat apps.
- Ask the interviewer questions about the company and the position.
- Be wary of anyone asking you to invest any money to get started.
The Better Business Bureau has more information on this important topic.
