A Free Public Service

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

November 29, 2021

NEW JOB SCAMS  

Courtesy Federal Trade Commission

Searching online can be a start for locating a good job. But scammers are there too. They post fake job ads designed to trick you into sharing personal information or sending money in exchange for the promise of a job…that doesn’t exist.

Here are a few ways to spot and avoid job scams:

*Be suspicious if you’re offered a job without an interview. Scammers might say they’re out of town, too busy, or have another excuse for not talking to you by phone or in person.

*If you receive a check but have not started a job, it could be a scam. The person “hiring you” might say: it’s your first paycheck, to use the money to buy supplies, or — for caregivers hired online — that it’s for expenses related to caring for your loved one. But later they’ll tell you to send part of the money to someone else or return it to them. They’ll have excuses, but the main thing to know is this: the check is fake. By the time the bank realizes it is fake, the scammer has your money (if you sent it), and the bank will want you to repay the money you withdrew from your account.

*Check out potential employers before giving them any sensitive information. Search online for their name, email address, phone number, and even the text of the message they sent. You might find that others have had bad experiences and been scammed by the same people, or in a similar way.

Spot one of these scams? We want to hear about it. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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