As if it isn’t tough enough out there for job seekers, the UK Financial Security Association is reporting that fake job ads are up 345% over the last three years.
Those job seekers that use Craigslist probably aren’t shocked by this tidbit. But if you come from the day of job searching strictly with the classifieds, this may come as a bit of a shock to you.
Why would someone post a fake job?
•1. To obtain your email address and sell it to the highest bidder.
•2. To obtain even more lucrative information such as a driver’s license number or social security number and sell it.
•3. To lure you into a scam or pyramid scheme.
I’m not quite sure how these scammers sleep at night, but please don’t add to your list of troubles by falling prey to their devious schemes. Here are red flags to look for when applying to a less reputable company in a job post:
*Don’t ever give out your social security number unless you are filling out paperwork because you got the job (certain companies will require that information prior to the offer for background check purposes). Bottom line? If you are being prompted for your social in the initial stages, that is a red flag.
*If you aren’t sure that the company is legit, channel Sherlock Holmes and do some research. Check with the Better Business Bureau or use your local resources to find out if this company is real. Sometimes even a simple Google search will help unmask a shady company or character.
*Most fake postings are simply to obtain your email address, so beef up your email security settings so that your mailbox isn’t inundated with spam mail.
I know that many of you are in the job-seeking phase right now, or recently went through it. Did you have any horror stories from fake job postings? Better yet, do you have any additional tips for fellow job seekers?
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