April 15, 2019

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal assistance for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

COLLEGE GRADUATE JOB SCAMS   

Congratulations students and parents! The Federal Trade Commission has some practical scam avoidance advice to offer. It won’t be long before young people across the country will put on their caps and gowns to celebrate their graduations.

What is a job scam?

If you’re looking for a job, scammers may be looking for you. Some phony job placement firms misrepresent their services, promote nonexistent vacancies, or charge high fees in advance for services that don’t guarantee placement.

Scammers might promise to help you find a job if you pay them up front. But after they take your money, you get nothing. This is a job scam.

How do I know a job promise is a scam? Most fake job offers have things in common:

*promises you a job

*guarantees that you will make money

*often says you can work at home

*might offer government jobs no one knows about

According to recently released FTC data, younger people reported losing money to fraud more often than older people. Based on those who reported fraud and gave us their age, 43% of people in their 20s reported a loss to fraud, while only 15% of people in their 70s did.

Helpful easy-to-read tips on budgeting, getting credit, renting a place to live, dealing with identity theft and scams is provided by www.consumer.gov.

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