When you’re looking for a new job opportunity, it’s easy to assume that every listing on a job board is legitimate. However, job search scams are surprisingly pervasive, particularly during the holiday season.
As the winter holidays get closer, many people look for jobs that can help them boost their earnings, often because celebrating the holidays can get expensive. Scammers know that job search activity can rise during this time of year, causing them to boost their efforts due to the increase in interest.
Fortunately, there are steps job seekers can take to identify and avoid becoming victims of job search scams. Here are some tips to help you spot job search scams.
Company Name Isn’t Listed or Searchable
One classic red flag of a job scam is a posting that doesn’t feature a company name. While it’s true that some legit companies use blind job ads for genuinely good reasons, it’s still highly uncommon. However, many job scams avoid publishing company names, so not seeing a name listed should give you pause.
Similarly, a company name that you don’t recognize and a subsequent internet search on it yields no meaningful results is a bad sign. It’s not uncommon for scammers to make up a company name that sounds authentic but isn’t actually tied to a real organization. As a result, if your due diligence doesn’t lead to definitive information on the legitimacy of the company, it could be a scam.
Contact’s Email Address Uses Free Domain
While startup companies may not have company email, it’s highly uncommon for most employers not to have their own email domains. As a result, if the contact email listed in the job ad uses a free domain – like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com – then you should exercise caution.
Well-known and well-established businesses won’t use free domains to connect with candidates, so if a job ad seems like it comes from a major company, but the email isn’t from its own domain, there’s a decent chance it’s a scam. For smaller companies, you should at least do additional research. For example, you can contact the company through a phone number posted on its own website to confirm the authenticity of the listing before applying.
A Job Offer Comes in Almost Immediately
Hiring processes are typically multi-phased and include steps like interviews, background checks, and more. If you submit a resume and get a job offer without much additional effort, then it’s possible you’re dealing with a scammer.
There’s a Request for Money
Scammers are usually after one thing: money. As a result, any request for cash you receive after submitting a resume is a red flag. That includes being asked to pay for part of the screening process and equipment the person says is mandatory, particularly if they request the money directly or want you to go through a specific link. Asking you to cash a check and return part of the money is also a classic scam.
