Jobseekers Don't Be Scammed!

Feb. 15, 2010 - PRLog -- As the unemployment rate rises, so does the threat of scams targeting job seekers. Ej's warns job hunters to be extremely cautious in their search for work, because scammers are out to take advantage of them and make a fast buck. As more people find themselves out of work, they also become targets of scammers looking to take advantage of those who are facing a tough financial situation.

More families are becoming increasingly susceptible to suspect offers for employment as they try to find work in an extremely competitive job market. Unfortunately, scammers will stop at nothing and have set their sights on the unemployed because the number of potential victims is growing by the hundreds of thousands every month. Jobseekers beware of:

Job offers that require an upfront fee:

Earlier this year, job ads cropped up from a company claiming it was looking to hire 2,500 employees for their new headquarters. Applicants had to submit money to pay for a background check. Law enforcement later found out that the money only went to the pockets of the company's owner. Sadly, similar schemes crop up across the U.K and U.S. every year. While the amount of money lost by any one victim may be small, the total amount taken in by the schemer can be significant. Jobseekers should never have to pay money up front to be considered for a job. If a potential employer asks for the jobseeker to pay the company to cover the costs of testing, training or background checks, consider it a red flag.

Job-placement assistance that makes big promises but can't deliver:

Job-placement companies, or headhunter firms, often do not charge the job seekers for help finding a job, but are instead paid by companies that need help filling positions. Some job placement companies, however, have been taking money from Jobseekers and not fulfilling their promises of quick employment. A placement firm was advertising on Craigslist, charging as much as $195 and guaranteed it could find jobseekers work. Unfortunately, these jobseekers didn't receive call backs or refunds and had no real way to contact the company. Always research a job-placement company first before signing contracts or paying money. Be extremely cautious about paying upfront fees and know the deal on how to get a refund.

Phishing attempts by ID thieves pretending to be real businesses:

Identity thieves employ many different methods for getting personal financial information from jobseekers. Spam e-mail might offer a great opportunity and direct the jobseeker to a Web site that is designed to install malware on his or her computer or solicit bank account or personal details. In other cases, the jobseeker might even be asked to submit a resume, find out they've been hired and then immediately be asked for bank account or Social Security numbers. Be extremely cautious when responding to unsolicited e-mails from supposed employers — even if the company name is well-known - and do not click on any links in the e-mail until having vetted the company fully and you can confirm that the e-mail came from a legitimate source.

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