Common Job Scams You Should Be Aware Of
I think we can all agree on one thing. We all want financial freedom and to be able to spend more time doing things that matter to us. This is a very logical desire, not just for Americans, but for everyone worldwide. We all know this, including scammers.
As we discussed last week, the number of job scams and victims who fall for them only continues to rise. And since Covid-19, many companies have moved online, which has fueled scammers to create more online remote positions.
Scammers are fully aware that many people are attracted to the benefits of working from home. It means parents get to spend more time with their children, people can save money on gas, and more. With that being said, here are some common job scams you should be aware of.
Work-From-Home
There are many work-from-home scams out there. Here is a list of common scams:
1. Re-shipping Products
In the scam, you will be asked to re-ship packages of goods, typically to an overseas address. The products are usually electronics that have been bought with a fake credit card. It will be shipped to your house, and you will have the task of re-shipping them to the address given to you.
This scam typically offers great pay, and you will be told that you will be compensated within a month. Once the month is up, the scammers will cut off all communication. If you are a victim of this scam, please be aware of the possibility of identity theft.
2. Medical Billing
Medical billing is a legit job, but in this case, scammers will require you to purchase your own equipment while promising that you will be reimbursed later. They, of course, do not reimburse you, nor will you receive the equipment.
3. Personal or Virtual Assistant
There are real personal and virtual assistant jobs out there, but be aware that some are scams. In some cases, the scammer will pose as someone who is a part of your community or an organization you are affiliated with, such as a university. After agreeing to work for them, they will send you a fake check and tell you to keep a portion of the money for your services and to send the rest to someone else. This is a scam. A reputable company will never tell you to do this. The check will bounce within a few days and you will be left to cover the costs.
Government Jobs
If you have seen ads for a government or postal worker position, be aware it may be a scam. After responding to the ad, you will be asked to pay a fee to get the job, or you may be asked to purchase study materials for a postal exam.
Information about government job openings is free and can be found on websites such as USAJobs.Gov, USA.Gov, Career One Stop, and USPS. If anyone requires you to pay, it is a scam.
Freelance and Gig Opportunities
When you find a freelance opportunity or gig that you are interested in, be aware of “employers” who ask you to do a test project or a trial. The scammer will ask you to do a project without pay as a test or trial period. Do not fall for this trick. They will not hire you in the end.
Telegram Scam
This scam is similar to the ones mentioned above. The scammer will require you to download the Telegram app to conduct an interview. Although this is a legitimate application, the scammer conducts the entire interview via chat. You will never receive a call or be asked to video chat. The scammer will then ask you to answer several questions and pressure you to respond quickly. They will typically hire you not even minutes after you are done answering their questions. This should be a red flag because it indicates that they never read your responses. Upon being hired, they will then send you a check for you to use to purchase “equipment and software.” Of course, the check is fake and you will be left with the consequences.
More Info
There are scammers everywhere, and they are always looking for the latest way to scam others. As always, be vigilant, trust your instincts, and do what you can to protect yourself from being scammed.
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