The Job Hunt - Sorting through the spam.
This time around in my job search is the first time I've used sites such as Monster, Careerbuilder and Craigslist to search for jobs. In the time I've been on these websites I have been amazed at the sheer amount of garbage that hits my SPAM email folder on a daily basis.
With unemployment currently high and a large number of job seekers out there, it is crucial to know what to look for. With a few easy tips you can skip over the spam and get to what you really want--the legitimate job offer emails.
1: The Work from Home scam
These almost never work. Why? Because they tell you that you will work a little bit and make TONS of money. Most people think, "Well hey, even if they are only half-right, I'll still make more than enough to live on!" The problem is that the companies offering the get-rich-quick schemes are not just doubly inflating their figures. While they may show testimonials from "real people" who make $5000 a month, the average person may make only $5 a month. Or even lose money. And while you are told that the job is "risk-free" the eventual membership fees (which are where the people selling the program really make their money) are often in the thousands.
The tip: Don't take any job that promises you "hundreds" or "thousands" of dollars a week for "just an hour or two a day of work." If something is good, it generally is not insanely easy to obtain. If these companies were offering such an easy program, they would be selling the product, not the program. And word of mouth would sell the product, not them.
2: The legit-sounding, but unrelated job.
These are tough to spot sometimes but not difficult once you get used to them. Have you worked as a foreman all your life and now someone is offering you "$500 a week starting out to be a personal assistant"? If so, it's probably one of these. The problem here is that not only is there no job, but when it comes time to get paid, you get sent your "guaranteed" check--and then some. If you were promised $500, the company may send you $1200 with a note saying: "The excess is to cover any business expenses. Please subtract your expenses and salary and wire the remainder back to us when you are done."
The problem: The check is fake. Banks in the US are required to clear checks within about 5 business days, but it may take up to 14 days--sometimes more--for a bad check to actually bounce. You wait for the check to clear, wire the thugs $700, and a week later your bank calls you to tell you the check bounced. Now not only did you not get paid for all that work, but you owe the bank $700 that you don't have anymore--because you wired the money to the criminals. They have gotten away scott-free (because wiring money is often untraceable, especially in foreign countries), and you are LEGALLY required to pay back the $700. Pretty scummy for the criminals to prey on those desperate for work by stealing even more money from them, huh?
3: The identity theft scam
This one is a bit less common these days, mainly because the previous methods are a lot easier for criminals and spammers. But there are occasions when an employer seems completely legitimate. Problem is, you have never met them in person, yet they're willing to give you the job just based on your resume (which they likely never looked at to begin with).
The scam: They send you a legit-looking W4 and ask you to fill it out. You give all your personal information--social security number, address, names, work history--everything someone needs to steal your identity. When the employer drops off the map or "decides they don't need you after all" you get mad, but move on--until a few months later when you find out your credit has been ruined by thieves.
Conclusion:
It's sometimes tough to spot these scams. Even I've been through an email a couple times before I finally figured out it was definitely bogus. If you remember a few simple tips, however, you can save yourself a lot of hassle:
1: If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Don't think you have found the one "exception."
2: If YOU have to pay THEM money, then are you really working for them? Or are they *working* you?
3: Don't give out too much of your information to them. If you question the legitimacy of a business, look them up. Look up the phone number they call from as well, just to make sure. No results online is a bad sign--it means it could be a new scam. Bad results are worse, because it means the scammer has been at this for awhile. But if you find lots of common information detailing positive experiences with the employer, you may be safe.
A final bit of advice: Don't be afraid to copy and paste a string of the email you get into Google. If it is a scammer, chances are they haven't taken the time to type up a unique email just for you. If your search result brings up an exact match after pasting a sentence or two, you know you've gotten a form letter at the very least--and more than likely a scam letter at that.
Remember: The Internet is a WONDERFUL place to look for employment. It's easy and convenient to find jobs--but it's just as easy and convenient for criminals to find victims. Good luck, fellow job seekers!
Found a scam you don't see listed here? Or think something may be a scam, but you're not sure? Post a comment below and I'll do what I can to help you figure out if it's legit--or just another scam.
With unemployment currently high and a large number of job seekers out there, it is crucial to know what to look for. With a few easy tips you can skip over the spam and get to what you really want--the legitimate job offer emails.
1: The Work from Home scam
These almost never work. Why? Because they tell you that you will work a little bit and make TONS of money. Most people think, "Well hey, even if they are only half-right, I'll still make more than enough to live on!" The problem is that the companies offering the get-rich-quick schemes are not just doubly inflating their figures. While they may show testimonials from "real people" who make $5000 a month, the average person may make only $5 a month. Or even lose money. And while you are told that the job is "risk-free" the eventual membership fees (which are where the people selling the program really make their money) are often in the thousands.
The tip: Don't take any job that promises you "hundreds" or "thousands" of dollars a week for "just an hour or two a day of work." If something is good, it generally is not insanely easy to obtain. If these companies were offering such an easy program, they would be selling the product, not the program. And word of mouth would sell the product, not them.
2: The legit-sounding, but unrelated job.
These are tough to spot sometimes but not difficult once you get used to them. Have you worked as a foreman all your life and now someone is offering you "$500 a week starting out to be a personal assistant"? If so, it's probably one of these. The problem here is that not only is there no job, but when it comes time to get paid, you get sent your "guaranteed" check--and then some. If you were promised $500, the company may send you $1200 with a note saying: "The excess is to cover any business expenses. Please subtract your expenses and salary and wire the remainder back to us when you are done."
The problem: The check is fake. Banks in the US are required to clear checks within about 5 business days, but it may take up to 14 days--sometimes more--for a bad check to actually bounce. You wait for the check to clear, wire the thugs $700, and a week later your bank calls you to tell you the check bounced. Now not only did you not get paid for all that work, but you owe the bank $700 that you don't have anymore--because you wired the money to the criminals. They have gotten away scott-free (because wiring money is often untraceable, especially in foreign countries), and you are LEGALLY required to pay back the $700. Pretty scummy for the criminals to prey on those desperate for work by stealing even more money from them, huh?
3: The identity theft scam
This one is a bit less common these days, mainly because the previous methods are a lot easier for criminals and spammers. But there are occasions when an employer seems completely legitimate. Problem is, you have never met them in person, yet they're willing to give you the job just based on your resume (which they likely never looked at to begin with).
The scam: They send you a legit-looking W4 and ask you to fill it out. You give all your personal information--social security number, address, names, work history--everything someone needs to steal your identity. When the employer drops off the map or "decides they don't need you after all" you get mad, but move on--until a few months later when you find out your credit has been ruined by thieves.
Conclusion:
It's sometimes tough to spot these scams. Even I've been through an email a couple times before I finally figured out it was definitely bogus. If you remember a few simple tips, however, you can save yourself a lot of hassle:
1: If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Don't think you have found the one "exception."
2: If YOU have to pay THEM money, then are you really working for them? Or are they *working* you?
3: Don't give out too much of your information to them. If you question the legitimacy of a business, look them up. Look up the phone number they call from as well, just to make sure. No results online is a bad sign--it means it could be a new scam. Bad results are worse, because it means the scammer has been at this for awhile. But if you find lots of common information detailing positive experiences with the employer, you may be safe.
A final bit of advice: Don't be afraid to copy and paste a string of the email you get into Google. If it is a scammer, chances are they haven't taken the time to type up a unique email just for you. If your search result brings up an exact match after pasting a sentence or two, you know you've gotten a form letter at the very least--and more than likely a scam letter at that.
Remember: The Internet is a WONDERFUL place to look for employment. It's easy and convenient to find jobs--but it's just as easy and convenient for criminals to find victims. Good luck, fellow job seekers!
Found a scam you don't see listed here? Or think something may be a scam, but you're not sure? Post a comment below and I'll do what I can to help you figure out if it's legit--or just another scam.
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