Searching for the next promising opportunity can bring about many emotions such as excitement, frustration, confusion, and hopefulness. Your job search strategy may include creating a jobseeker account, posting resumes online, and applying for openings on job boards like Monster.com, CareerBuilder, and the Hire Heroes USA Job Board. Some jobseekers expect to find a new job in a month; however, statistics show that the average time it takes for someone to secure employment is seven months. When desperate times call for desperate measures, it’s easy to be fooled into applying for a scam job. Due to the high unemployment rate, job scamming is on the rise. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated and know how to appeal to a jobseeker.
Here are 3 common job scams to watch out for:
- Spoof Website (Fake Websites): While these fake websites look legitimate, they are professionally created and cloned by scammers to collect your personal information (Social Security Number, passwords, bank account, credit cards, PayPal, birth date, etc). Most spoof websites require you to login or register so it can capture your information. The best approach to identify a fake website is to pay close attention to the URL or web address.
- Suspicious Email Address: If you receive an email from Debbie Diggs (Delta Airlines Hiring Manager) regarding your application, you should expect for Debbie’s email address/domain name to be similar to DebbieDiggs@Delta.com. As you can see, the employer’s name is listed as the domain name. Beware of scammers imitating hiring managers while using a personal email address like gmail.com, yahoo.com, hotmail.com, etc.
- Uncommon Interview Invitations: Scammers are now utilizing messaging platforms, such as Yahoo Messenger, to solicit online interviews to job seekers. Job seekers receive a professional email with explicit instructions to download an application and chat online with someone posing as an HR recruiter. This simple online interview turns into a job offer. Not long after, job seekers are asked for personal information as part of the hiring process, thus opening themselves up to identify theft. Avoid all companies that initiate such interviews; these are not common business practices and should be approached very cautiously.
The best way to protect yourself from a scam is to research. It’s worth the time, energy, and money to research the job opening and company website using Yellow Pages, Google, Bing, or any reputable search engine. If the website appears suspicious, you can use URL/domain name services like GoDaddy and Whois. Whois should display the owner of the domain, website registration details, and contact information unless the domain is registered as private. In addition, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a great resource to help you find trustworthy businesses. If you are a transitioning service member, veteran, or spouse using Hire Heroes USA’s programs and services, always take the time to contact your Veteran Transition Specialist if you are unsure about an opportunity. The old saying holds true: you’re better safe than sorry.
About the Author – Dynesha Montgomery, VTS
Dynesha is a Veteran Transition Specialist at Hire Heroes USA. She is passionate about helping those who served. Dynesha considers herself a “bridge builder,” because she enjoys connecting people to the resources they need to live happier, healthier, more meaningful lives.